SCR 14-40-HOUR WORK WEEK FOR STATE EMPLOYEES  CHAIR BUNDE announced SCR 40 to be up for consideration. He said that state workers negotiated shorter hours when the state was in different fiscal circumstances and that he had heard unfair criticism of state workers. He frequently asks people to address the realities of our fiscal situation and to also consider paying a state income tax. The answer he gets is that no one wants to pay taxes until state workers start working a 40-hour workweek. This resolution encourages the administration in their negotiations with the various public employee unions to move toward a 40-hour workweek. He maintained, "It increases productivity and, I think, increases public confidence in the efficiency of state employees." MR. DON ETHERIDGE, AFL-CIO, said the AFL-CIO has negotiated this issue several times in the past. It was ratified by the memberships but rejected by the legislature nine years ago. This administration asked the unions if they were interested, and they were, but then the administration said they weren't interested any more. The reason they are on a 37.5-hour workweek is because hours were reduced years ago as an additional pay increase. He explained: Our memberships and our leaderships feel that if we do go back to the 40-hour workweek, we should be looking at being paid for those additional hours that we put in, which would be only right. If you're expected to work more, you should be paid for those hours. In the past, the contracts that we did negotiate, we negotiated a straight 40 hours at the current rate, no increases for I think the one Local 71, did. There were no increases for a three-year period if we went on the 40-hour workweek and that was one of the contracts that was rejected.... SENATOR STEVENS asked how many labor unions he represents and how many the state is dealing with. MR. ETHERIDGE replied that the state bargaining unit is made up of 12 units. Some of them are at the table right now and others will be negotiating later this year. Not all 12 are under the 37.5-hour workweek. Some work 40 hours; some work 80 hours, such as the marine units. SENATOR FRENCH asked if some employees work for a straight hourly wage and submit a time sheet for hours worked. MR. ETHERIDGE replied yes, the majority of employees are in that category. SENATOR FRENCH asked if the work hours are increased to 40, the employees would just get that many more hours on their paychecks every two weeks. MR. ETHERIDGE said that is right. SENATOR FRENCH asked if some employees are salaried but also get overtime. MR. ETHERIDGE replied that some are, but he isn't familiar with which ones. SENATOR FRENCH said it sounds like most employees are hourly and salaried with no overtime. MR. ETHERIDGE agreed. SENATOR STEVENS asked if overtime is paid for hours worked between 37.5 and 40 hours. MR. ETHERIDGE replied that some are, but the majority work up to 40 hours at the straight time rate. SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass SCR 14 out of committee with individual recommendations and its attached zero fiscal note. SENATOR STEVENS, DAVIS, SEEKINS and BUNDE voted yea; SENATOR FRENCH voted nay; and SCR 14 moved out of committee.