Delaware State News
DOVER — State employees secured a victory Thursday when the Senate approved collective bargaining legislation in a 14-6 vote that largely fell along party lines — all but one Democrat voted for the measure and five of the “no” votes were Republicans.
Lawmakers locked horns over concerns that Senate Bill 36 would lock the General Assembly into giving raises over multiple years and would take away the legislature’s power over pay.
But Michael A. Begatto, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said the bill simply gives about 16,000 state workers an opportunity to be part of the process.
“We picked up a couple votes once they realized that the benefit given to state employees is to sit at the table as equals,” Mr. Begatto said.
The original tally for the bill was so tight that a scheduled vote Tuesday was delayed because a supportive senator was out.
Under SB 36, state employees would be divided into 12 bargaining units, including correctional officers, engineers, social services workers, professional patient care workers and labor, maintenance, trade and service workers.
Any agreement reached between the governor’s office and state workers on wages, hours and working conditions would be binding — the governor would be required to include the percentage in each proposed budget.
However, the legislative Joint Finance Committee, which writes the operating budget each year, would not be bound to include those increases.
But several legislators decried the bill as handcuffing JFC.
“There will be a moral obligation if the governor signs a collective bargaining agreement,” said Sen. F. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, who voted against the bill.
“We would be hard-pressed to go against that. It makes it extremely difficult for the Joint Finance Committee to go against that moral obligation.”
But JFC co-chair Sen. Nancy W. Cook, D-Kenton, noted that the budget-writing panel could accept, reject or modify the governor’s recommendation and has done so with the Delaware State Police, with whom the state negotiates salaries.
Gov. Ruth Ann Minner said she doesn’t believe unions would push for outlandish raises when faced with tight economic times.
“They’ll bargain fairly,” she said. “They have wanted this for a great number of years, and we will be able to work with them.”
Several senators balked at the provision that negotiated deals could be for multiple years, but Sen. Harris B. McDowell III, D-Wilmington, noted that negotiations consume a lot of time and energy.
“It would be exhausting to do that every year,” said Sen. McDowell, who voted for the bill.
An amendment to require annual negotiations failed.
Office of Management and Budget director Jennifer W. Davis does not anticipate any complications in negotiating with state employees, noting that the state already goes to the table with state police and emergency call workers.
“It will change the process, but we do have some experience in this,” Mrs. Davis said. “In good times, we negotiate, and in bad times, we negotiate cautiously.”
Delaware State Education Association legislative director Jack Polidori said the association has negotiated teachers’ wages with the state for years with no problems.
The state controller general’s office estimates that with a statewide workforce of 16,000, the overall annual cost increase to the state would be $20 million to $30 million.
It would not have any impact until fiscal 2009.
SB 36 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration, where House Speaker Rep. Terry R. Spence, R-New Castle, said it would get a fair debate.
“I think state employees deserve a seat at the table to debate their pay,” said Rep. Spence, a co-sponsor of the measure.
Mr. Begatto of AFSCME said he is encouraged by the bill’s chances in the House with Rep. Spence and two other labor-friendly legislators, Rep. William A. Oberle Jr., R-Newark, and Rep. Vincent A. Lofink, R-Bear, signed on as well.
“It’s definitely convenient to have labor-friendly members of the majority supporting it,” said Mr. Begatto, adding that he hopes to have the bill done by June 28.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Staff writer Drew Volturo can be reached at 741-8296 or dvolturo@newszap.com
