Collective bargaining reform plan gets public airing (Ne & Omaha Steve)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Lincoln Journal Star

By KEVIN O'HANLON

Dozens of people jammed a legislative committee hearing Wednesday to weigh in on a blueprint to overhaul the state's collective bargaining system for public workers.

The plan (LB397) came about after cities and the League of Municipalities complained that the Commission on Industrial Relations, which hears public labor disputes, was inconsistent and unpredictable in its decisions.

Omaha Sens. Steve Lathrop and Brad Ashford assembled a group that included the league, the state Chamber of Commerce and labor unions to draft the plan, which represents the first comprehensive overhaul to the state's collective bargaining law since 1969.

"It was not an exclusive group. It was not a closed group. It was a group made up of the interested ... and the knowledgeable," Lathrop said. "As we listened to the concerns ... we did not hear a call for repeal of the CIR, nor did we hear a call to end collective bargaining.


Read more: http://journalstar.com/news/unicameral/article_afd73472-a861-516a-b1c0-a18332337849.html

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Gov. Heineman has threatened to put killing public unions on the ballot. So Yes I'll take the proposed changes and count my losses.

[jwirr]

1. Having worked in the McGovern campaign in NE I agree. The farmers

and businesses would vote yes. NE is at heart a republican state and when we do get a Democrat in he/she has to walk the line if he/she wants to get in again. It is a fact.

[freshwest]

2. From your description, the meeting was better than letting Heineman have his way. Sending you...

The best in this time of autocratic, anti-worker GOP governors.

[No Elephants]

3. K & R