Arizona’s fiscal conservatives are forwarding legislation that has been cleared by Senate rules that aim to curb the control unions have over their members and those members’ money.
S1142 (paycheck deductions; employee authorization) would require an annual opt-in for third party and union paycheck deductions. Senator Gail Griffin attempted to pass a similar bill this year but four Republicans joined Democrats to defeat it.
Sen. Rick Murphy, R-Glendale is presenting a trio of union-related bills that could be up for debate this coming week. Murphy said he would prefer that legislation go further and ban union payment deductions altogether because public employees use government time to set up the deductions.
“There is no reason taxpayers should have to pay for this,” Murphy said referring to the fact that public employees engage in union activities during paid work time.
Some opponents want o see an exemption for public safety workers from the prohibitions.
• S1349 (public employees; activities; unions; compensation) would require an annual opt-in for third party and union paycheck deductions.
• S1350 (government contract workers; strike prohibition) would ban those who contract with government from striking.
• S1348 (public employees; activities; unions; compensation) would prohibit compensating government workers while doing union work.
Taylor Earl, a lawyer for the Goldwater Institute told the Arizona Capitol Times that the bans on automatic deductions force unions to do more for their members or risk declines in membership.