Senate Committee Releases Findings On Collective Bargaining Order

The Senate Interim Committee on Collective Bargaining for Public Employees has released a report which finds Governor Bob Holden’s executive order allowing some state workers to bargain collectively might have exceeded statutory authority. Committee Chairman John Russell (R-Lebanon) says the findings raise serious questions regarding the Governor’s actions in issuing the executive order. There are concerns it might exceed statutory authority under state law and the National Labor Relations Act under federal law. The study on which the report is based recommends statutory changes to ensure all employees get a vote on whether collective bargaining should be established, protect workers against coercion to join or not join unions, and asks the Governor to adopt a code of conduct that prohibits state officials or officers from receiving political contributions from unions for which they serve as bargaining agents.