|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
House
Bill 1
FY’05
Budget
|
|
Beyond The "Reforms":
The Romney Budget
Civil Service & Collective Bargaining
What does the Romney Budget Do?
The Governor has proposed even more draconian changes to civil service and collective bargaining than he did last year. He once again eliminated civil service for all state and municipal employees. The Governor claims to have preserved civil service for public safety, but has in fact undermined the system for those workers so severely as to render it useless. In addition, he has broadened his attempt to strip workers of their union protections. Furthermore, the Governor makes confusing changes to the seniority system.
The Truth Behind the "Reforms"
The Civil Service System was developed to protect dedicated public sector jobs from politically motivated hiring, firing and promotion. The goal of the system is to insure that hiring, promotion and job retention are based on knowledge and performance, rather than patronage. Presumably Governor Romney himself – who ran on an anti-patronage ticket – would agree that these goals are as important today as they were when the System was created.
The Civil Service System allows workers to build career ladders, thereby promoting retention of experienced workers. Merit-based promotion prevents the morale problems that inevitably follow political promotions, and helps insure high quality public services.
Between 50% and 65% of public employees presently in a union would lose those protections under the Governor’s proposal. With no civil service and no collective bargaining, thousands of additional jobs in the public service become more vulnerable to the pressures of patronage.
The Governor eliminates the statutory definition of seniority, but claims to keep it the system for use in determining layoffs. We’re not sure what the Governor is attempting here, but seniority remains the most rational and fair way to make any number of personnel decisions, large and small.
What Would Real Reform Look Like?
The legislature rejected similar proposals last year, and we urge that you do so again.
Governor Romney’s proposal to eliminate the Civil Service System wholesale seems like a thinly disguised attempt to free politically appointed public sector managers from reasonable rules and limits. We agree that Civil Service could be upgraded. If changes are needed, we recommend a study commission that includes both employer and employee organizations to hash out what those changes should be.
Any reforms to the collective bargaining law should make it easier for workers to join unions (HB 2734/SB 94), not deprive workers of union protections.
| | |