The House Local Government II Committee was packed on the morning of Wednesday, June 17th when members debated the merits of SB 1271. This bill was being sold by lobbyists from the Firefighters’ Assn. and the Fraternal Order of Police as a simple way for these associations to collect dues through their members’ paychecks. This bill was about much more than that.
After passing through the NC Senate early during last session, the bill languished in the House Committee on State Personnel without a vote until the powers that be in the House pulled it from Personnel and sent it to the Local Government II Committee. The bill sponsor, Sen. John Snow (D-Cherokee) made this case that this bill was a way to support our fire and police officers by allowing them to do the same thing that the United Way does, payroll deduction.
Rep. Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) began to question the need for the measure and cited his experience as a town commissioner. Rep. Laura Wiley (R-Guilford) also sought explanations for the bill’s purpose.
Several local government advocacy groups then spoke against the measure, including the NC League of Municipalities, the NC Sheriff’s Assn. and the NC Assn. of Chiefs of Police. But, by far, the most direct and compelling argument against the bill was made by Paul Meyer of the NC Assn. of Counties who correctly pointed out that this bill was really a precursor towards giving public employees in North Carolina the power of collective bargaining. Sen. Snow took great exception to the mentioning of collective bargaining and appeared very agitated.
New people flee to North Carolina every year to escape the high taxes and poor economies of the Northeast that are dominated by public service unions that demand annual pay increases and threaten to strike if they don’t get what they want. A majority of representatives on the committee heard that message loud and clear and defeated the bill by a vote of 6-8.
Voting to allow the payroll deductions were Reps. Alma Adams (D-Guilford), Neslon Dollar (R-Wake), Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe), Earl Jones (D-Guilford), Jimmy Love (D-Lee) and Larry Womble (D-Forsyth).
Voting against allowing the payroll deductions were Reps. Lucy Allen (D-Franklin), Larry Brown (R-Forsyth), Phil Frye(R-Mitchell), Marvin Lucas (D-Cumberland), Mary McAllister (D-Cumberland), Fred Steen (R-Rowan), Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) and Laura Wiley (R-Guilford).
The reality is that employee associations can have their members set up bank drafts that automatically deduct dues from the members’ bank accounts without ever involving government. But, once you have inserted these wannabe unions between a worker and his paycheck, the line between voluntary participation and coercion begins to blur. What happens if you are the only member of your police dept. that does not have payroll deduction? Maybe you just need a little "talking" to to "get your mind right." Fortunately for North Carolina, on Wednesday morning, the Local Government II Committee was stacked with a number of members that remember their days on the city council or county commission and don’t want to make the jobs of their successors anymore difficult.
After reading the stuff in the Red Clay Citizen I am sure glad I have no affiliation with this organization. Either it is run by the right wing big government or Adolf Hitler. You guys have no real concern for the employee nor do you care about the state of North Carolina. It guys like you that guarantee a democratic President this year. With the mindset of the Red Clay rambler look out Washington DC a real change is coming. An arguement on how a man pays his bills or how he chooses to spend his money is ridiculous.
It’s not an argument about how a man chooses to spend his money. It’s an argument about whether government should be involved in the transaction.
If an individual wants to set up his bank account to automatically give a certain amount to a labor union every month, fine. But government has no role in that transaction and should not be used as a conduit to a transaction between two private individuals.
The problem with NC is that government has it’s head burried so far in the sand that they can’t see directly in front of them. Yhere is no different in this as there is donating to the United Way or some other organization through your paycheck. There are many 501 (3) C organizations that could tag along and do the same for employee representation groups. If you give access to one you have to give it to all and not only to Big governement sponsored organizations. The Good Ole’ Boy system is a live and well in NC thanks to Senator Marc Basnite and the Red Clay Citizen.
Payroll deductions are about one thing: Money. Obviously, these associations currently do not enjoy the financial support of their “voluntary members” enough to the association management’s satisfaction. By REQUIRING the local city, town or county government to become the dues collection arm of the private association, more dues would come in and enable the association to embark on entirely new schemes.
There is a HUGE difference between these would be unions and nonprofits and charities. The associations are focused on one mission: increasing the pay of members without regard to the impact on local government budgets and the ensuing taxes.
Government does not have an endless source of money. It comes out of the pockets of the taxpayer.
Public sector employees understand that there is a difference between working for government and working in the private sector. Public sector employees enjoy generous benefits but usually get paid less. Private sector employees make better wages but are terminated for more regularly.
Rick, if you want to give your money to the union, fine give all you want. Just don’t expect the city’s payroll department to be your collection agent.
And, for the record, Senator Marc Basnight and the Red Clay Citizen rarely agree on anything.
As for the record it appears that attitudes will have to change in NC if they want to become more of a player on the modern job market. The day of the Marc Basnight’s will soon becomming to an end as the OBAMA democrats will push these types of issues down the throats of the politicians wheather they like it or not. OBAMA is pro union. However you think I am. I am not! The North Carolina Sheriff Police Alliance in a 501-3 (c)non-profit and this can help to fund death benefits for officers families who are killed in the line of duty. The families need this to help them in the trying times ahead. Voting this bill down shot the family members of the officers killed in the line of duty here in North Carolina right through the heart. You have no idea how many families the no vote devistated once again. When the next election rolls around we will have to work hard to remind the public of the No votes and who cast them. They took a direct shot at law enforcement and the fireman of this great state. Maybe when these politicians need help we should take time to take a vote first!
Well, it looks like it happened. The old style of leadership is out the door and the law enforcement officers and the families will be better of. It shows that the new age democrat is now stepping to the front. Small things like payroll deduction should not be an issue in todays standards. Payroll deduction is used for everything. Using it by choice should be the officers decision and not the county or city. Payroll deduction for all or none. Republicans like MCcory may have now seen the light!