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California Bill Pushing Greater Union Power Is 'Roadblock to Reform,' Critics Say
As if the state isn't in enough trouble, they're now going to hand over this much power to unions? I'm almost certain Brown will sign it as he's been in bed with these unions forever.
A pending California bill that would allow unions to directly appoint half of city and county civil service commissions is a misguided piece of legislation that would allow "government insiders to set public policy," critics told FoxNews.com.
The bill, AB 455, passed California's state Senate by a vote of 23-14 on Tuesday and now awaits the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown. If signed into law, AB 455 would allow unions to appoint half of the members of bodies that resolve disputes regarding wages, hours and other terms of conditions of employment. If multiple bargaining units are represented by different recognized employee organizations, the union representing the "largest number of employees would designate commission members pursuant to that provision," according to the bill.
"I think this is absurd," said Chris Edwards, editor of Cato Institute's Downsizing the Federal Government website. "We should not have collective bargaining or monopoly unions in the public sector at all. Why? Because that gives a special place in our democracy to a group of government insiders to set public policy. We should not have the reins of government to special interest groups like labor unions."
If signed into law, Edwards said the bill would lead to reduced efficiency in public services and would not necessarily be a boon to average workers represented by the unions.
"The heads of labor unions are all about power and they will try to increase their power over state government policy any way they can," said Edwards, who noted that California has the highest-paid municipal workers in the country. "They need to make huge reforms to public sector pay. This would seem to be another roadblock to reform."
The bill, AB 455, passed California's state Senate by a vote of 23-14 on Tuesday and now awaits the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown. If signed into law, AB 455 would allow unions to appoint half of the members of bodies that resolve disputes regarding wages, hours and other terms of conditions of employment. If multiple bargaining units are represented by different recognized employee organizations, the union representing the "largest number of employees would designate commission members pursuant to that provision," according to the bill.
"I think this is absurd," said Chris Edwards, editor of Cato Institute's Downsizing the Federal Government website. "We should not have collective bargaining or monopoly unions in the public sector at all. Why? Because that gives a special place in our democracy to a group of government insiders to set public policy. We should not have the reins of government to special interest groups like labor unions."
If signed into law, Edwards said the bill would lead to reduced efficiency in public services and would not necessarily be a boon to average workers represented by the unions.
"The heads of labor unions are all about power and they will try to increase their power over state government policy any way they can," said Edwards, who noted that California has the highest-paid municipal workers in the country. "They need to make huge reforms to public sector pay. This would seem to be another roadblock to reform."
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