2 AM Attempt To Revive Anti-Union Bill Fails

In the dark of night when public TV was no longer broadcasting the Minnesota House session, a Republican tries to revive the anti-union “right to work” constitutional amendment.

Just after 2 AM Friday morning, Representative Mark Buesgens (R-Savage) asks to move the bill to the Rules Committee where it might get a more favorable hearing and “jump start” its passage.

Fellow Republican Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa immediately moves to table the attempt. Buesgen’s motion is tabled by an overwhelming margin.

This is the second attempt to revive the bill since it stalled in Commerce Committee. The previous attempt from Representative Doug Wardlow (R-Eagan) failed after Wardlow didn’t speak to his motion.

While Republicans have been vocal in their support for the anti-union constitutional amendment, it appears they are shying away from taking a vote on it since they fear what it could mean for them in this fall’s election.

MN House Approves Collective Bargaining Restrictions

A bill that opponents say “puts the thumb on the scale” for management passed the Minnesota State House on Tuesday. Supporters say the bill prevents “automatic raises” for public employees after a union contract expires and while the next contract is being negotiated. The House included a Senate provision that exempts law enforcement and fire fighters from the restriction.

Students Protest Union Busting Move At U of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Graduate students who teach at a University of Wisconsin college say the Dean there has broken his promise to honor their union contract. The students say Dean Rodney Swain of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s College of Letters and Sciences has sent out a letter saying there is no current contract, so UWM would be discontinuing summer tuition remission for the union members. This benefit allowed summer tuition remission for graduating assistants who must take a summer class to fulfill their degree.

The union says while cuts to the college’s budget may prompt the administration’s action, it is not right to pay for budget cuts on the backs of graduate workers. The union is pressing Dr. Swain to honor the spirit of his promise of March, 2011 and “do no harm” to workers’ contracts.

More than 200 emails and phone calls were made last week by union members, faculty, alumni, classified and unclassified staff and students at the University demanding that the Dean reverse his decision to eliminate summer tuition remission.

More than 300 postcards have been delivered to the Dean’s office. The first segment of postcards were delivered to the Dean’s secretary, April 16, she said the dean was busy and could not meet with MGAA; second segment of postcards were delivered to office that was locked, not allowing MGAA leadership to even speak with secretary to get a receipt of the postcards delivered (Monday they were given receipts).

Protest Against “Attack On The Middle Class”

Minnesota Republicans are pushing a constitutional amendment that makes would undermine union membership. It allows “free riders”, employees who get the benefits of union negotiations without requiring them to help pay for that negotiation.

Monday it passed its first test in the Senate on a slim 7-6 margin with one Republican voting against the bill.

Outside the committee room protests that recalled the furor of last year’s Wisconsin labor battle echoed through the Capitol’s halls.

One union supporter pointed to the thousand plus crowd and asked where were the people who want this so-called “right to work” constitutional amendment? Where was their rally?

Public To Senators: Your Minds Are Already Made Up On Unions

Child care providers say they fear a potential union vote may force them to pay dues despite Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s executive order to the contrary. One member of the public, Ellen Hurley of Eden Prairie, tells Senators that their minds are already made up because of their positions on unions.

After the public testimony, the Senate Health and Human Services committee approves the bill that would prevent union dues from coming out of Child Care Assistance Payments.

Senators joust over child care anti-union bill.
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“Where Are The Jobs Bills?”

“Where are the jobs bills?”, asks Minnesota House Minority Leader Paul Thissen as he criticizes a Republican backed bill focused on preventing childcare union dues for any future union from being automatically taken state payments.

Representative Thissen and other DFLers said hat the problem the bill addresses doesn’t even exist.

Representative Thissen points to a recent poll that shows the legislature’s approval rating in the teens compared to Governor Mark Dayton’s 50% approval rating.

House Majority Leader Matt Dean responds saying the union dues bill is a jobs bill as are the tort reform bills that have been sent to Governor Dayton’s desk.

The Governor is still deciding whether to sign those bills.

MNGOP Considering “Litany” Of Constitutional Amendments

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader David Senjem revealed today that his caucus is considering a “litany” of constitutional amendments although he would like to see them limited to three.

Republicans have already put an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment on the fall ballot and have introduced bills to put a voter photo ID and and anti-union amendment on the ballot.

Senator Senjem says there is no question that the voter photo ID constitutional amendment will be on this November’s general election ballot.

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen says Republicans should focus on job creation instead of constitutional amendments.

MN Has A Surplus For A Change-Sort Of

State budget forecasters say Minnesota will have an $876 million surplus at the end of the year. That’s a welcome change from the multi-billion dollar deficit that greeted Governor Mark Dayton after he took over from departing Governor Tim Pawlenty.

But despite the good news, the states finances are a bit gloomy because the economy is expected to get worse through 2013.

DFL Chair Ken Martan says there is still really a deficit because the state has borrowed money from school districts.
“The economic forecast that was released today does not reflect the irresponsible borrow and spend tactics that the Republicans have used to balance our state’s budget. In spite of the surplus, Minnesota still has a $1.4 billion debt to our children and schools because the Republicans decided it was easier to take money from education rather than raise taxes on the rich. Middle class families are shouldering higher property taxes because the Republicans refused to make millionaires pay their fair share. Last summer’s state shutdown was completely due to the Republicans refusal to give an inch on taxes, a move which cost the state $60 million. The Republican budget strategies rely on one-time borrow and shift methods that have maxed out our state’s credit card; their celebration of today’s budget news is misguided.”

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Amping Up Occupy Wall Street

What started as a small protest just a few weeks ago has grown into a nationwide movement. People who are tired of corporations and banks reaping the benefits of a more efficient workforce while one and five Americans slip into poverty. The economic imbalance has hit a tipping point as unions and political organizations join the protests and marches planned today in New York City.

Read the live twitter feed from Occupy Wall Street … Continue Reading

Sen Goodwin asks: Why Did GOP Cut Daycare If They Respect It So Much?

Republican Minnesota Senate leaders call a hearing to preempt any attempt to unionize daycare providers in Minnesota so they can bargain with the state for better subsidies.

During the hearing several Republican Senators state how important daycare providers are. Democratic Senator Barb Goodwin counters that if Republicans really held daycare providers in such high esteem, then they wouldn’t have cut their budget nearly 2% last year after 10 years of no increases.

She says that daycare providers are an occupation that makes such little money compared to how hard the work is that they do. She it is “untruthful” to say we respect them that much if we cut their subsidies.

See the full video of the hearing. … Continue Reading