GOP governors cut state workers' rights

[Judi Lynn]

Sunday, March 20, 2005 · Last updated 11:49 p.m. PT

GOP governors cut state workers' rights

By ROBERT TANNER
AP NATIONAL WRITER

Republican governors in a few spots across the country are angering state employees by removing one of organized labor's strongest tools - the right to collective bargaining.

Governors in three states who've taken the step say it's about making government more efficient or being fair to non-union workers. Critics say it's political payback for labor's traditional support of Democrats and part of a wider shift to undermine workers in favor of big business.

Within hours or days of taking office this year, Mitch Daniels in Indiana and Matt Blunt in Missouri eliminated collective bargaining agreements for state employees, affecting about 50,000 workers. Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher did the same when he took office in 2003. In each case, the agreements had only been granted by executive order, not by law.

In Mississippi, where state employees don't have collective bargaining rights, GOP Gov. Haley Barbour supports a legislative effort to eliminate existing civil-service protections. In Oklahoma, the GOP-controlled state House approved a measure to repeal a law granting collective bargaining to municipal employees.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Governors%20Unions

[LincolnMcGrath]

1. And so it continues.......

[durablend]

8. Really ramping that "Race to the bottom" up, aren't they?

Going in overdrive the past couple of week.

[LdyGuique]

2. It's preliminary to using outsourcing

These people can kiss their jobs goodbye in the long run -- in the short run, an elimination of civil service pension plans, benefit packages, and wages will be spiraled downwards.

[SoCalDem]

3. Unions must die

for republicans to work their magic.. Their magic spell drives down "costs" for employers and puts money into their campaigns.. Every dollar "given" to a greedy union member is a dollar that Mitch Daniels could have had, in the form of a donation from that poor boss who had to pay it as salary..

Where's your humanity, people???
</sarcasm>

[Mistahkleeen]

4. The G.O.Please bendover, continues to stick it

the voters that support their agenda. Labor supports the Democratic party. But these 3 states all voted for the chimp in the last 2 elections. "Please sir, may I have some more."

[bling bling]

5. StL didn't vote for chimpy.

Sometimes I wish St. Louis could just cede from the state and become part of IL.

[cthrumatrix]

6. GOP Governors Cut State Workers' Rights

GOP Governors Cut State Workers' Rights

28 minutes ago U.S. National - AP


By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer

Republican governors in a few spots across the country are angering state employees by removing one of organized labor's strongest tools — the right to collective bargaining.

Governors in three states who've taken the step say it's about making government more efficient or being fair to non-union workers. Critics say it's political payback for labor's traditional support of Democrats and part of a wider shift to undermine workers in favor of big business.


Within hours or days of taking office this year, Mitch Daniels in Indiana and Matt Blunt in Missouri eliminated collective bargaining agreements for state employees, affecting about 50,000 workers. Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher did the same when he took office in 2003. In each case, the agreements had only been granted by executive order, not by law.

snip
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20050321/ap_on_re_us/governors_unions

[shanti]

7. and you KNOW

ahnuld is most likely busily trying to pull this off in cali now too! :grr: