Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1996-01-12 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1996-01-12 Senate Journal Page 2128 SB 218 SENATE BILL NO. 218 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: An Act relating to salaries for certain officers and employees who are not members of a collective bargaining unit; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. Fiscal note published today from all departments except Alaska Court System. Fiscal note published today from Legislative Affairs Agency. 1996-01-12 Senate Journal Page 2129 SB 218 Governors transmittal letter dated January 12: Dear President Pearce: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the salaries of state employees who are not members of a collective bargaining unit. This bill would provide for increases in the salary schedule in AS39.27.011(a), effective July 1, 1996, July 1, 1997, and July1,1998, if the federal cost-of-living index indicates that there has been an increase in the cost of living during the previous calendar year. The language describing the percentage of increase-- capped at 1.5 percent--is derived from the recently negotiated agreements between the state and most employees covered by collective bargaining including: the Alaska State Employees Association, which represents employees in the largest state bargaining unit, the General Government Unit; the Alaska Public Employees Association, representing the Supervisory Unit; and Public Employees Local 71, representing the Labor, Trades, and Crafts Unit. State employees whose salaries are governed by the salary schedule in AS39.27.011(a) have not had a cost-of-living adjustment in their salaries since 1991. All state employees whose salaries are determined by collective bargaining have had at least one cost-of- living adjustment that was not given to the salary schedule employees; members of some collective bargaining units have had more than one such adjustment. This bill recognizes that inflation affects salary schedule employees just as it affects bargaining unit employees. This bill does not attempt to equalize the salary schedules of the unionized and non-unionized work forces; it is simply designed to guarantee that, through fiscal year 1999, non- unionized workers receive the same cost-of-living protection as their unionized colleagues. I urge your prompt consideration and passage of this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor