Collective Bargaining and the Bottom Line: Q&A with Heritage…
Faced with an $8 billion deficit spending, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) is on the brink of signing a bill that would prevent state workers from utilizing cumulative bargaining to negotiate their health and pension benefits. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has actually pushed a similar bill, which has actually drawn nationwide attention, generated weeks of demonstrations, and sent out Democratic lawmakers running away the state as a way to stall its passage.
2 other GOP guvs facing major budget crises – New Jersey’s Chris Christie and Michigan’s Rick Snyder – have made it clear that they do not see restricting bargaining rights as the key to more austerity. Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana deal with major deficit spending, and in those states public workers do not have cumulative bargaining rights.
To what extent is collective bargaining to blame for out-of-control state spending? Is securing down on the ability of public-employee unions to negotiate a crucial tactic for closing what might grow to a combined $125 billion space in state budget plans next fiscal year?
Reason.tv’s Nick Gillespie sat down with the Heritage Foundation’s James Sherk to talk about what cumulative bargaining implies to the bottom line of states.
Around 5.30 minutes. Cam by Jim Epstein and Joshua Swain, and modified by Epstein.
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