Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
05/12/2007 09:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB171 | |
| HB252 | |
| HJR25 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HJR 25 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 252 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 171 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 25-SUPPORTING RIGHT TO FORM LABOR UNIONS CHAIR LYNN announced that the last order of business was HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 25, Urging the United States Congress to support the freedom to choose unions. CHAIR LYNN commented on the controversial nature of the bill and the number of people signed up to testify. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN HARRIS, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HJR 25 as sponsor. He said he is bringing forth the proposed resolution on behalf of the labor unions of Alaska. Representative Harris relayed that he has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for over 30 years. He said America's middle class is shrinking rapidly; there is an increasing chasm between the "haves" and the "have nots." He said that fact concerns him, and HJR 25 would give people an opportunity to bridge that gap by more easily becoming members of unions and, thus, experiencing better working conditions and receiving better pensions. 9:38:20 AM [Recording begins again here.] CHARISSE MILLETT, Staff to Representative John Harris, offered an overview of HJR 25 on behalf of Representative Harris, prime sponsor. She said HJR 25 supports HR 800, which has currently passed the U.S. Congress and will be heard in the U.S. Senate in July. She paraphrased from a page [in the committee packet] from the sponsor as follows: Working families in Alaska and throughout America are struggling to make ends meet, and our middle class is disappearing. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935 sought to allow people the freedom to join together for the purpose of [collectively] bargaining with [employers] for mutual aid and protections. The system worked ... [well] for awhile, but now the national labor relations machinery allows [employers] to be militantly, [aggressively] hostile to the decisions of their employees, even though three-fourths of all Americans think employers should be neutral. The system is broken. Today, we have a system where [chief executive officers] (CEOs) demand contracts for themselves but fight to keep workers from having a voice on the job. As a result, working people are losing ground - losing health care coverage, retirement security, and jobs. A union voice can change that. The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) keeps the basic system, but gives the workers choice. They can have an election or, if they prefer, they can demonstrate their [preference] for union representation by a show of authorization cards - it's called "the card check" - [which] then [become] the basis for the [National Labor Relations Board] (NLRB) certification. Further, EFCA imposes stiffer penalties on employers who coerce or intimidate their employees. Passage of this act will go a long way to restore the original intent of the National Labor Relations Act, and will help uplift the middle class in our state [and] throughout the country. MS. MILLETT noted that there is currently a companion bill being introduced by the Senate. 9:40:26 AM CHAIR LYNN said some people have a knee-jerk reaction to the word "union." He recognized the need for both management and unions, but said there appears to be a great divide between the two. 9:41:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL offered her understanding that a store which would soon be opening in Juneau is not "open to unions." MS. MILLETT, in response to questions from Representative Doll, said she thinks HJR 25 will have an impact on "civil penalties or penalties against companies that don't allow union organization." 9:42:42 AM MS. MILLETT, in response to a question from Chair Lynn, confirmed that HJR 25 is based on a model resolution used throughout the country and has been modified for Alaska. 9:43:05 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he strongly supports HJR 25. He offered his understanding that there is a similar bill being offered by U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. He noted that a copy of the proposed resolution would be sent to the prime sponsor in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he recommended adding Senator Kennedy's name. CHAIR LYNN said he does not want to be too specific regarding to whom the legislation is sent. MS. MILLETT indicated that HJR 25 supports the legislation that has been brought forth by Senator Edward Kennedy. 9:44:27 AM VINCE BELTRAMI, President, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), testified during the hearing on HJR 25. He indicated that whether or not one supports the proposed resolution boils down to whether or not he/she supports the rights of employees to organize as is guaranteed under the National Labor Relations Act, legislation which he said was passed to overcome oppression in the not so distant past. He related historical examples of that oppression. He said "union density" has slipped from over 35 percent in the 1940s to its present level of 8 percent nationwide, and he stated that it is well known that a thriving middle class would prop up the nation's economy. He opined that the proposed legislation is "the first step to try to shift back to what it was the National Labor Relations Act set out to do." He said he would submit his written testimony along with a DVD related to the issue. 9:49:14 AM MELINDA TAYLOR, Executive Board Member, Anchorage Central Labor Council, testified in support of HJR 25. She explained her support of the proposed resolution is based on economic reasons, specifically, the decline of the middle class. She said she is not opposed to big business and people making millions of dollars, she just wants "the little guy to be able to buy a house, start a family, and fully participate in the American dream." 9:50:18 AM CHAIR LYNN noted that the following people had signed up to testify on behalf of the Local 942 labor union: Michael Lockery (ph), Candis Shannon (ph), Carl S. Weed (ph), Bret Horner (ph), Tim Sharp, and Sean Rice (ph). In the interest of time, he asked that this group choose one person to be their spokesperson, and that that spokesperson be ready to testify after the next witness. 9:50:43 AM JAY QUAKENBUSH, Fairbanks Building Trades, testified in support of HJR 25. He relayed that he has represented many new employers and employees under contract. However, there have been numerous lost opportunities to organize new workers, often times because of direct coercion of employers - even if subtle. He offered an example. 9:54:14 AM TIM SHARP, Business Manager, Local 942; Business Manager, District Council of Laborers, testified in support of HJR 25. He said he has worked as a labor organizer for over ten years and has seen firsthand some of the abuses taking place within unscrupulous companies. He described HJR 25 as the most progressive resolution to come out of the House in over 20 years. He indicated that the gap between the upper and lower classes is directly proportional to a lack of unionization. 9:56:18 AM DON ETHERIDGE testified on behalf of the AFL-CIO in support of HJR 25. He said he realizes there are good and bad players on "both sides of the aisle." He urged the committee to support the resolution as a means of improving past situations. CHAIR LYNN stated his strong support of the U.S. and Alaska, and encouraged a good relationship between labor and management. 9:57:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HJR 25 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 9:57:33 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES objected to offer final comment. He stated that it does not help in gaining support of any legislation to classify a person as bad or good based on how he/she votes. He said people should vote their conscience. He related that although he appreciates the enthusiasm and intensity with which people have testified, he warns against "inflaming other people as we go forward with this." He summarized that he supports the concepts of the resolution, but not its "glowing generalities." 9:58:43 AM CHAIR LYNN concurred with Representative Roses. 9:58:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL stated his support of HJR 25, but said he does not support testimony that brings back old history. He stated, "For every bad thing that has been done to a union, you could say that bad things have happened to companies, as well." He explained, "You just [have] to be careful about taking that vitriolic language and pushing it out in a resolution when you're asking support for a particular bill in Congress." CHAIR LYNN said he would like to see these issues moved forward in an atmosphere of cooperation. 9:59:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES removed his objection. There being no further objection, HJR 25 was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
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