01/20/1994 09:09 AM Senate CRA

 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS introduced  SB 2  (PAY EQUITY BASED ON VALUE     E    
 OF WORK) as the last order of business before the committee.                  
                                                                               
 SENATOR DONLEY stated that Alaska may be out of compliance with               
 federal law.  SB 2 is designed to send Alaska towards compliance              
 with federal law; there are virtually no mandates in SB 2.  SB 2              
 sets out a pattern for cooperative effort with employees, but it is           
 subject to legislative approval each year.                                    
                                                                               
 Senator Donley pointed out that the committee substitute excludes             
 collective bargaining.  He expressed concern with that deletion due           
 to existing state statutory guidelines of joint decision-making.              
 He was also concerned with legal ramifications which could force              
 people in to non-compliance.  Federal law prohibits intentionally             
 reducing one individual employee's salary under the pretext that              
 you have to bring someone else's up to receive pay equity.                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR asked if redrawing job classifications would get               
 around the legal aspects.                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 145                                                                    
                                                                               
 MIKE MCMULLEN referred to the federal law with the equal pay for              
 equal work provision.  That statute has the prohibition of lowering           
 salaries to become compliant when you are found guilty.  He spoke             
 to the issue of collective bargaining and not to bring it in on a             
 separate issue.                                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR DONLEY stated that his proposal is based upon the Minnesota           
 process that works with the employees without mandating the state.            
                                                                               
 MIKE MCMULLEN explained that the state does not want another false            
 start.  He emphasized his proposal will come to completion, with no           
 questions on it in the future.                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR DONLEY expressed potential problems when the employees face           
 imposed reductions without bargaining.                                        
                                                                               
 Number 242                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RANDY PHILLIPS said that if Senator Donley's bill becomes            
 law it would probably be vetoed.                                              
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS stated that everyone should work on their legislation           
 no matter what happens.                                                       
                                                                               
 SENATOR ZHAROFF pointed out that the Governor had changed his mind            
 on a binding arbitration bill he had previously expressed dislike.            
                                                                               
 SENATOR ADAMS moved that SB 2 and the attached fiscal notes be                
 passed out of committee with individual recommendations.  Chairman            
 Randy Phillips objected and called for a voice vote.  Senators                
 Adams and Zharoff voted "Yea" and Senator Randy Phillips voted                
 "Nay".  The chairman stated that the motion failed and that SB 2              
 will be brought up again in the following weeks.