Voters to decide on labor panel? (could end MY union)

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Martha Stoddard

LINCOLN — An attempt to eliminate the state agency that resolves labor disputes involving public employees could be headed for next year's ballot.

Gov. Dave Heineman warned Tuesday that an initiative petition drive to eliminate the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations is likely if current attempts to overhaul the CIR fail.

“If the Legislature doesn't act, I can almost assure you, you are going to see a very well-funded, organized effort to put this issue on the ballot,” he said.

Under state law, the CIR resolves labor disputes between public employee unions and state or local governments. The process has been blamed for steep and unpredictable increases in government spending.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110223/NEWS01/702239870/0#voters-to-decide-on-labor-panel

---

Nebraska voters approved the Right to work in 1946. One of the first to do so. Across the US, in Right to Work states the average take home pay is $5,000 less than closed shop states.


This is the worst of the proposed changes. It would end my union period: LB 664 would bar public employees from going on strike or engaging in a work slowdown and would prohibit state and local governments from recognizing employees unions. The measure also would abolish the CIR. Sen. John Nelson of Omaha, who introduced the bill, last week proposed a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit collective bargaining by governments.

Other bills offered to change the CIR: LB 564 would remove the CIR’s authority to decide labor disputes and turn it into a body that can only recommend solutions. Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln introduced that bill.

LB 619, introduced by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, would remove school districts, learning communities and educational service units from the commission’s jurisdiction but leave other governmental subdivisions as is.

LB 623 would limit the CIR’s authority to set benefits for employees of Douglas County. Introduced by Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh of Omaha, the measure would bar the commission from issuing orders about insurance and pension benefits for such employees. The bill also specifies what employers the commission could use when comparing wages and benefits for Douglas County employees.

LB 555, introduced by Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, would eliminate a step in the bargaining process for state employees. Under Harms’ proposal, labor disputes that are not settled by Jan. 10 would go directly to the CIR, rather than to a special master. The bill also lists factors for the commission to consider when comparing wages.