Bill Text: NJ AR148 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses support for collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin public employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-05 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [AR148 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR148-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin public employees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing support for the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin state, public school, municipal, and University of Wisconsin employees.
Whereas, Public servants are our friends, neighbors, and constituents, and through their carrying out of our legislative enactments, they enable us to meet our commitments to all citizens; and
Whereas, Wisconsin was one of the earliest states to guarantee public employees the right to organize and bargain collectively, and New Jersey granted similar rights in the 1960's; and
Whereas, Recently, the word "union" has been purposely distorted, and we often forget our nation is a union of otherwise self-governing states and that the term is used in wedding ceremonies and to describe the First Amendment freedom to associate in groups which are advancing legitimate interests, a right that states' governors are obliged to observe always; and
Whereas, Historically, labor unions are responsible for the civilized working conditions we take for granted, including 40-hour work weeks, laws pertaining to child labor and health and safety conditions, overtime pay, and health insurance and pension coverage; and
Whereas, As a central part of our democracy, labor unions are the bulwark of assuring a strong middle-class society, and no democracy should deny public employees the right to organize and participate in a union and to negotiate at arm's length and in good faith with their governmental employer; and
Whereas, Collective bargaining is neither a weapon nor a bludgeon but rather an enlightened method to resolve disagreements in good faith; and
Whereas, On February 14, 2011, by request of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, the Committee on Senate Organization introduced January 2011 Special Session Senate Bill 11, to alleviate the state's reported fiscal problems; and
Whereas, Under this bill, employees' right to bargain collectively over working conditions and benefits would be eliminated and only "base wages" of one year's duration could be collectively bargained and only for increases that do not exceed the consumer price index unless a voter referendum to the contrary is approved, and no collectively bargained agreement could be extended beyond a single year; and
Whereas, Senate Bill 11 also terminates the collective bargaining rights of the University of Wisconsin System, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority, and of certain home care and child health care providers; and
Whereas, Madison, Wisconsin, has become the site of enormous demonstrations in opposition to Senate Bill 11, which is an extremely unfortunate proposal that would do great harm to thousands of hard-working Wisconsin public employees; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the General Assembly to express support for the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin public employees, and to encourage New Jerseyans to reflect on the valuable role of public sector unions in a civil society; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House expresses its support for the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin state, public school, municipal, and University of Wisconsin employees.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature, the Governor of Wisconsin, council 24 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Madison, Wisconsin, and to all labor unions representing workers in the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses support for the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin state, public school, municipal, and University of Wisconsin employees. The resolution acknowledges, despite these hard economic times, the great value and worth of municipal, public school, university, and state employees and reaffirms the legitimacy of their right to sit down with their employer in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
The resolution recognizes that public servants are our friends, neighbors, and constituents, and through their carrying out of legislative enactments, they enable governments to meet their commitments to all citizens. While Wisconsin was one of the earliest states to guarantee public employees the right to organize and bargain collectively, New Jersey also granted those rights to its public employees in the 1960's.
Recently, the word "union" has been purposely distorted. The resolution reaffirms the use of the word "union" as it is used to describe many aspects of our democratic society, including: wedding ceremonies; the First Amendment freedom to associate in groups which are advancing legitimate interests; and our nation, which is a union of otherwise self-governing states.
Historically, labor unions are responsible for the civilized working conditions we take for granted, including: 40-hour work weeks; child labor laws; health and safety conditions; overtime pay; and health insurance and pension coverage. This resolution asserts that, as a central part of our democracy, labor unions are the bulwark of assuring a strong middle-class society, and that collective bargaining is neither a weapon nor a bludgeon but rather an enlightened method to resolve disagreements in good faith.
The resolution also recognizes that Wisconsin January 2011 Special Session Senate Bill 11, requested for legislative introduction by Governor Scott Walker, terminates the collective bargaining rights of the majority of Wisconsin public employees. Under Wisconsin Senate Bill 11, public employees' bargaining rights would be limited to "base wages" of one year's duration and only for increases that do not exceed the consumer price index unless a voter referendum to the contrary is approved, and no collectively bargained agreement could be extended beyond a single year.
Finally, this resolution encourages New Jerseyans to reflect on the valuable role of public sector unions in a civil society and expresses the support for collective bargaining rights of all Wisconsin public employees.
