As state workers loudly protest cuts in Wisconsin, attracting national headlines, negotiations have quietly begun with Floridas state employee unions.
A joint legislative committee on collective bargaining heard from state workers' union representatives Monday, who complained that language in a proposal from Gov. Rick Scotts office is unlawful because it is vague and seeks to evade their right to bargain.
Union representatives were upset at Scotts proposal that allows the state to ignore the provisions for the deduction of union dues in Floridas contracts with state employees.
What this is about is the employer not wanting to commit contractually saying there will be dues deduction in case the Legislature passes a law saying there will be no dues deduction, said Richard Siwica, who represents the Florida State Fire Service Association.
Siwica said Scott is trying to anticipate Senate Bill 830, filed by Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, becoming law. Thrashers bill would eliminate the ability of state agencies and local governments to extract dues or other union-related payments from the wages of their employees.
The employer (the state of Florida) is trying to jump the gun. It amounts to a waive of the unions' right to bargain, Siwica said.
A spokesperson for Scotts office did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment Monday.
Scotts budget proposal includes savings of $2.8 billion over two years from cuts to the state retirement system. The savings would be achieved by requiring employees to contribute 5 percent of their salaries to the Florida Retirement System, requiring all new employees to join a defined contribution plan, reducing the annual service credit and eliminating the cost-of-living adjustment.
Public-sector unions are fighting the proposals and consistently point to the fact that they havent received a raise in five years.
Scotts proposals are simply recommendations that must be taken up by the Legislature when they craft the state budget. But the new governor, facing a $3.6 billion deficit, would like to see savings sooner rather than later, and is trying to keep his options open in case the Republican-controlled Legislature passes laws allowing him to trim more from state workers in the contracts that are currently being negotiated.
Union officials said Monday they recognize the difficult fiscal situation the state is in, and say they are reaching out to the state. They noted that the situation in Wisconsin is more drastic than Florida, but warned that Scotts ideas could still spark outrage.
Florida is completely different from Wisconsin. Now, some of the proposals that are out there could get some people pretty riled up, particularly on retirement and on health benefits, said Doug Martin, legislative director of the American Federation of State, Council and Municipal Employees in Florida.
But Martin is confident a deal can be struck with the Legislature.
We have a much more constructive relationship with the House and Senate Republican congresses (sic). We worked very well with the leadership in the House and the Senate through this budget crisis over the last few years to avoid massive layoffs, to avoid any damage to core services, Martin said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
