Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/07/2000 02:45 PM Senate L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 230-RIGHT TO WORK SENATOR LYDA GREEN stated SB 230 encourages workers and employees to maintain employment through assistance of a union or other programs. Every person should have the right to work for a union or independently. MR. STEVE BOYD, Manager of the Alaska Chapter of National Electrical Contractors Association(NECA), stated opposition for SB 230. It interferes with the collective bargaining process that has been established under federal law and is guided by State law. The process is to benefit employees, employers, and public interests. SB 230 could create dissention in the workplace. It takes a democratic process to establish union representation. MR. WILLIAM THEUER, representing himself, stated opposition for SB 230. The legislature should focus toward new investments in Alaskans, new businesses attracted to the clean environment, open space, and availability of field employees. Mr. Theuer commented on the Right to Work Law in Florida and how it made the economy get much worse. Alaska needs a long-term prosperity strategy that makes strategic investments in infra-structure, education, resources, and Alaskans. A partnership between government, industry, education, and Alaskans should be formed to prepare the State for challenges of the new century. Number 824 MR. MANO FREY, President of Alaska AFL-CIO, and Manager of Laborers Union Local 341, stated opposition for SB 230. People should have the choice of working for a union. Any person under a collective bargaining agreement has the choice of becoming a member. Beck Rights are granted to people who do not want to join a union in Alaska, but want the representation. MR. RAYMOND SMITH, President of Western Alaska Builders & Construction Trades Council (WABCTC), stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 is anti-worker. It does not help the economy, and the economics of the worker. SB 230 gives a right to pay lower wages and would not help the State of Alaska. MR. GARY BROOKS, Manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1547, stated opposition for SB 230. IBEW 1547 represents 5000 members across the State. Mr. Brooks asked where in society do Americans allow the concept of the minority to force the views and impact the majority in a situation like the right to work does in our country. There are no other scenarios. The will of the majority dictates which direction to head in. With right to work the majority decides if they will be represented by a labor organization. If 51 percent of the people make the decision to join a labor organization, the group is to support that decision. People are not required to join, but they must participate financially. SB 230 is harmful to the working person, and has a detrimental impact on wages in the State. Number 1681 MR. ANDREW HODNIK, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 302, stated opposition for SB 230. Mr. Hodnik stated he does not want to financially support a non-dues paying member for the same benefits, and is happy to pay his union dues to receive the benefits the union provides and security for the future. The legislature should send the strong message that Alaska will never become a right to work state. MS. VALERIE BAFFONE, Alaska State Workers Compensation Board, Public Employees Union Local 71, stated opposition for SB 230. Right to work legislation has a consistent track record showing results have weakened unions in every state where right to work has been enforced. Workers safety would suffer, and in Alaska the working elements are already dangerous. MR. JAY QUACKENBUSH, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1547, stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 could be destructive for Alaskan workers, and SB 230's purpose is to weaken the ability of working people to have a collective voice while bargaining with their employer. The promoters of the legislation try to paint an ugly picture of what unions represent. The working men and women that make up unions make the decisions; unions are not a lone dictatorship. Number 2045 MR. BILL CORBUS, General Manager of Alaska Electric Light & Power Company(AEL&P), stated AEL&P has had a collective bargaining agreement with IBEW since 1948. A collective bargaining agreement is beneficial to both parties in the end. The collective bargaining agreement and IBEW have provided a fair way to address compensation issues, resolve employee/employer conflicts, and provide trained craftsmen for AEL&P. Right to work weakens the power of the unions and hurts the collective bargaining process. MR. KEVIN MCGEE, President of American Federal Government Employees ALF-CIO Local 3028, stated every worker should have the right but no worker should feel compelled to join a labor union. Those workers who choose not to support or join a labor union should not expect to receive the same opportunities, benefits, and representation of those workers that make the choice to join a union. Mr. McGee gave statistics about anti-union propaganda. Between 1980 and 1998, the average pay of regular working people increased only 68 percent, while CEO's pay increased 1,596 percent. More than 2/3 of Americans feel positive or neutral about unions, and negative attitudes about unions have declined. Mr. McGee stated opposition for SB 230. Number 2332 SENATOR DONLEY asked Mr. McGee the pay increase of average workers compared to CEO's pay. MR. MCGEE stated between 1980 and 1998, the average worker's pay increased 68 percent, compared to CEO pay which increased 1,596 percent. MS. BARBARA HUFF TUCKNESS, Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for Teamsters Local 959, stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 does not give an employee a right they do not already enjoy. It sets up a system that would allow an individual to receive the negotiated wages, health benefits, or to find a job and keep it, this is a myth. It has been illegal to force a person to join a union since the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947. TAPE 00-09, SIDE B MS. HUFF TUCKNESS gave an explanation of the Taft-Hartley Act. In 1951, the Taft-Hartley Act was repealed by Senator Taft. It required government conducted secret ballot elections among workers to approve union shop clauses. During that time 46,119 elections were held. Out of that, 97.1 resulted in a vote in the affirmative for a union shop. The law does not require a person to become a member of a union. Congress has provided additional protection for religious objectors. They are not required to pay union dues, they can donate an equivalent sum to a charity. Under the Beck Rights decision, the Supreme Court upheld a service fee concept. The Beck Rights decision found the employee would pay a fee related to the servicing of that collective bargaining agreement. If the employee does not agree with the amount of the service fee, then a third party arbitrator is appointed to review all the financial documentation. All employees benefit equally from union representation. MR. DON SWARNER, stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 would allow people not to pay taxes and still receive the benefits those taxes provide. MR. JOHN CYR, President of NEA-Alaska, stated NEA-Alaska represents 12,000 people working in schools, and 135,000 children in Alaska. The average student scores are 43 points higher on SAT exams in states in which 90 percent of teachers are unionized than in states where less than 50 percent are unionized. The list of non-union education states are the lowest performing in education. Collective bargaining is not a destructive force in public education. Better working conditions for teachers enable better learning conditions for students. Mr. Cyr stated opposition for SB 230. MR. R. SCOTT BRIDGES, representing himself, stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 will drive a spike into the heart of working people in Alaska. The State must not serve oppression on Alaska's workers by denying them the choice to use economy of scale and representing their workplace interests. MR. DAVID FORD, Business Manager for Ironworkers Local 751, stated opposition for SB 230. Wages are currently 40 percent less in Alaska because a high influx of people from right to work states are moving to Alaska. MR. BOB TOTH, representing himself, stated a union is not exclusive. Any person is welcome to join, and paying dues helps wage earnings. Breaking unions will not help Alaska; Alaska is a resource dependent state and will continue to be. To expect representation and benefits without paying any cost is not American. Mr. Toth expressed opposition to SB 230. MR. DON VALESKO, Business Manager of Public Employees Union Local 71, stated only one person has given testimony in favor of SB 230. The legislature should give a clear message that Alaska should not become a right to work state. Alaska's standard of living should not be compromised. Mr. Valesko stated opposition for SB 230. Number 1536 MR. TIM SHARP, Laborers Union Local 942, stated opposition for SB 230. SB 230 is an end run to defund its silenced workers' voice on job sites throughout Alaska, by weakening the vehicle of collective bargaining. Businesses, contractor associations, and political organizations do not enjoy the political support of organized labor. Alaska has dropped annually from leading the nation in wages and benefits to levels between 7-10 in the nation. MR. DWIGHT PERKINS, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Labor (DOL), stated opposition for SB 230. DOL's mission is to foster and promote the welfare of the wage earners in the State, improve their working conditions and advance their opportunities for probable employment. SB 230 does not consider the best interests of the wage earners in Alaska. CHAIRMAN MACKIE stated SB 230 would be held in committee.
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