Governor says no to bargaining (New Indiana Gov cancels labor agreements)

[democraticinsurgent]

On his second day in office, Gov. Mitch Daniels cancelled the state's collective bargaining agreements with the state's unions.

The action left more than 23,000 state employees represented by unions no longer able to negotiate pay, benefits and work rules with state officials. However, pay raises granted for 2005 are not affected by Daniels' actions.

The workers' bargaining power expired with Democrat Joe Kernan's term in office.

The negotiating authority, not found in state law, depends on each incoming governor to sign a new executive order. Daniels chose not to renew the order.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/8/208588-1048-092.html

-For those of us wondering how My Man Mitch would do things differently than a Democrat, here's a glaring example. Ugh.

[Union Thug]

1. But progressives should never ever say the words "class war"

That is precisely what this is, out and out class war waged against the working people. Disgusting

[LisaLynne]

2. Exactly what I expected him to do.

I can't even discuss the man without swearing, so I'll just drop it. But this is class warfare -- they started it against working people a long time ago.

[Bzzzz]

3. The working people in Indiana...

have no one to blame but themselves(friggin' red state). They voted him in.
Now the big question? Are unions in the State done for? You know that we'll be competing with China for the jobs...they make $.35 an hr., you'll make $.35 an hr.

[izzybeans]

4. Does this include

teachers or are they considered municipal/district employees in Indiana rather than state employees? If so what will the role of NEA be given many districts operate on a time lag between contracts while bargaining persists. My mother's a teacher who is currently negotiating her retirement. I'm not sure how it all works

[LiberalFighter]

11. They are covered under state law to some degree.

In fact I believe there is additional legislation that they are trying to pass.

[burn the bush]

7. please. I'm in Indiana. It's our own fault?

[LiberalFighter]

12. What might be next??

So called "Right to Work." That will make it difficult for labor unions to bargain for their members.

I haven't seen any legislation on the table for the General Assembly. We can only hope at this time.

[LiberalFighter]

26. HB 1050

Makes it a Class A misdemeanor for an employer to require an individual to: (1) become or remain a member of a labor organization; (2) pay dues, fees, or other charges to a labor organization; or (3) pay to a charity or another third party an amount that represents dues, fees, or other charges required of members of a labor organization; as a condition of employment or continuation of employment. Establishes a private right of action for violations or threatened violations.

Introduced by Torr

[indianablue]

17. State workers

[Voltaire]

5. As an affected employee

The words I have are unprintable. Even for DU.

[Sadie5]

6. I know a few people

who work for the state who will be affected by this. My heart goes out to them.

[shesemsmom]

8. And so it begins. Most of the state workers I know wanted the SOB

and they have taken us down with them. I can't wait to see them to tell them I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!
God Save INDIANA

[DrGonzoLives]

9. Raise your hand if you're really surprised by this

I sure as hell am not. He'll go after the ISTA next.

[dray178355]

13. SIGH.....

I'm a state employee. I saw this coming when Daniels was elected. I'm at a loss for words. Maybe this will wake some of our fellow Hoosiers up. I used to think my job was fairly safe since I work for the schools. Now it's getting a little scary.

We have a union meeting next week. I wonder what the topic will be.

[izzybeans]

14. Perhaps a state employee walkout is in order?

[DrGonzoLives]

18. With collective bargaining gone

A walkout may just mean that they all get fired en masse.

[izzybeans]

19. I used to work for the state...

if its large enough they couldn't stand the capital losses with new recruitment and training.

[DrGonzoLives]

20. True

Problem is, how many are going to fear losing their jobs if they do it? That will keep a lot of people from joining in.

It would be great if they could pull it off, but I think the climate is such in Indiana now that it just won't happen.

[izzybeans]

21. How many are going to loose their jobs anyway?

I'd bet their man's next move is to start trimming the "repug" fat from the budget, which means that these now unprotected workers have no footing to push back from. I'm just shooting from the hip here. My bet is with your scenario, but I think there is an opening here.

[Voltaire]

22. I think they will cut as many State Employees as possible

and then cut some more! The goal is to be able to say that bottom line, he cut the budget. Since we are run by businessmen we will be cut as soon as possible. Everyone I know is constantly on edge or ping-pong between fear and loathing (I have been keeping my co-workers informed for years, so they know what's going on).

I'd better print off a bunch of copies of my resume.

[izzybeans]

23. Then their

ready to (g)rumble. What's your sense of their feelings about all this?

[Voltaire]

25. Most folks I know

Are scared white. The mood is not good here.

[LiberalFighter]

27. That is the plus of having a labor union in the workplace...

stability and less turnover.

But idiots like the bitch don't care.

[LiberalFighter]

10. I worked on the campaign to gain collective bargaining for state workers

From 1989 until Bayh signed an executive order in 1992.

We didn't have much luck getting the General Assembly to pass a law.

I am sure there are too many state employees that didn't understand the importance of who held the Governor's office.

[Plaid Adder]

15. That's...that's...ARGH!!!!!

My blood boils.

And from my point of view, the absolute most PUKEWORTHY part of this is that he's using child advocacy as an excuse. How much bullshit has the right wing gotten away with by saying it's all to protect the children? Yes, because it's so respectful of the rights of children to use them as a human shield whenever you want to screw the working class.

OK, better pace myself. Don't want to get all ranted out on Day 3. Worse will come, surely.

:argh:

The Plaid Adder

[izzybeans]

16. this just got a mention an AAR about 20 minutes ago.

[Sadie5]

24. The Star had a thread for this

and it seemed to me that most of the posters said they voted for Mitch the Bitch and were happy that he has squashed their union rights.