|
Archive |
|||
Florida
AFL-CIO |
|||
|
The 1999 Florida Legislative Session has begun with a bang. Several of labor's major
issues have already been heard in committees, with little notice. It is our sense
that "Government in the Sunshine" is cloudier than ever. New rules make it
even more difficult to get copies of proposed committee bills and proposed
amendments than ever before. Rules for giving notice on bills to be heard in
committee (currently 2 working days before the meeting) seem to be ignored, and the
legislators are giving our misleading statements. A new policy in the House requires that a proposed committee bill (PCB) be sent to the House Council that oversees that committee as a "proposed committee draft" (DFT). The Council must them approve the DFT before the committee can hear it as a PCB. Until then, the committee may "workshop" the bill, but not vote on it. The DFT is generally noticed as dealing with a general subject matter i.e. telecommunications, with little detail on the issue at hand. Getting a copy of the DFT seems to be impossible. If available, they are only obtainable from the committee office. Most often, we are told there is nothing available. There is a feeling of power and glee in the air - emanating from business and industry lobbyists. Almost every issue brought before committees or many legislators ends up with the question "Is is too for BUSINESS?" United Labor Lobby (ULL) and consumer groups have a tough road ahead of them this year. Tax cuts for business abound. The Governor has proposed $1.2 billion in tax cuts. Although he espouses concern for education, he proposals are geared toward giving school vouchers and privatizing educational programs and responsibilities. He has stated that he wants Florida "to become a laboratory for privation of social services". He seems to be having a problem, however, in finding successful examples to which he can point. Labor has long been an opponent of privatization, understanding that taking government-mandated services away from governmental control rarely works. The employees and the consumers usually end up with less services and higher costs. The following is a broad overview of the areas and issues ULL lobbyists will be working on this session. More specific information bill actions will be reported as they occur. |
|||
|
|
|||
| BUILDING
TRADES Joint (union/industry) apprenticeship programs have proven their worth throughout the years. The need for well-run and regulated apprenticeship programs is of primary concern to developing a skilled construction trades workforce. The state of Florida has not had a good track record in overseeing apprenticeship programs under the Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship Training. ULL has had to continually fight to keep a bureau status of the program and continue its funding at a minimum level. It is the feeling of the building trades community that at least $1 million should be budgeted by the state to allow the bureau to operate effectively. Failing that level of funding, it is being suggested that the apprenticeship regulation program be eliminated in the state government and be turned back to the federal government. A drug -free workplace on state funded construction projects is a priority of the Florida Building Trades Council. Responsible contractors who comply with the drug-free workplace provisions should have the opportunity to provide safe quality construction projects for the benefits of the workers on the job and ultimately for the welfare of the consumer. Efforts are being made to require drug-free workplaces for state construction projects.
|
|||
| EDUCATION School Vouchers that will allow certain children to attend private schools using public school money is a major issue in education circles. Draining funds from public schools to be used by only a portion of the state's student population for private schooling creates a separate and unequal division of leaning opportunities. In no way can the ULL support any type of voucher system. It is unfair and potentially disastrous for the state. Governor Bush and House Speaker Thrasher are openly supportive of the voucher system. However Senate President Toni Jennings has made it clear that she opposes the issue. The Florida Senate may end up being the only possible stopping point for this fast moving legislation. Teacher accountability proposals that link teachers' jobs and salaries to students' test results and other performance criteria are included in the "education advancement" legislation. It seems that on one hand, legislators talk about making low performing schools better by requiring strict accountability standards and at the same time, taking money away from those same low performing schools and giving it to private institutions in the form of vouchers. There seems to be no logical thinking behind this. A School Readiness bill has already gone to the Senate floor and establishes a nonprofit corporation to administer a state school readiness program. The corporation will be required to develop a system for measuring school readiness. The bill as written is a good one and must be watched carefully to make sure it stays clean. |
|||
|
|
|||
| NURSING
HOMES The need for minimum staffing requirements in nursing homes is critical. Without adequate personnel, the care of Florida's elderly population suffers greatly. Several bills have been filed that address the issue of quality care in Florida's long term care facilities. We will be working on getting a reasonable staffing ratio requirement placed into law. Along with the need for enough staff, it is important that employee wages be high enough to attract qualified care givers and encourage long term employment. One method of accomplishing this is to use a portion of the Federal Medicaid dollars that are sent to Florida for nursing home operations as wage pass-through money for staff. ULL will endeavor to get this proviso in the Appropriations Act. |
|||
|
|
|||
| PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES Pay raises for state employees have been minimal in the past several years. This year seems to be no exception. The Governor has proposed a 2.6 % increase beginning July 1, 1999. Although the beginning date is earlier than in previous years, there is no provision for a minimum amount for those state workers in the lowest paid positions. AFSCME will be asking for a 4% increase with a minimum amount of $1,400 per year. Privatization continues to rear its ugly head. There are proposals to privatize entire departments, whole divisions, many offices and other entities of state government. All this even though there is no evidence that those areas already privatized are going the jobs they are supposed to be doing. ULL will continue to try to hold back the storm of privatization as much as possible. State Heath Insurance is in a state of flux, with changes being proposed in the method of health care provision. One major issue, especially in the HMO arena, is a proposal that would allow a patient who is under treatment with a health care provider who has been dropped from the plan, to continue his/her treatment with that provider until the treatment plan is over. With so much change occurring in HMOs, it is important that patient rights to quality care not be overlooked. |
|||
|
|
|||
| TELECOMMUNICATIONS The legislature is looking at a $5 increase in residential telephone services across the board. Studies have shown that if this increase goes into effect, 32% of those persons making under $10,000 annually would cancel their service. Since deregulation of telecommunications in Florida, there are areas of concern that have not been addressed. One of these is the issue of maintaining adequate underground facilities to accommodate the needs of the industry. Much attention has been placed on wireless communication, leaving the upkeep of this equipment on the back burner. The issue of customer privacy has not even been discussed in recent times. Consumers are not aware of the fact that the entire conversation they may have with a telephone company representative may be monitored and taped. Also, requests for unlisted numbers are being ignored by publishers of telephone books not provided by the local exchange company. |
|||
|
|
|||
| GENERAL
LABOR ISSUES There is a mountain of bills filed this year that can affect working families and their communities. Several unemployment compensation bills have already been passed out of House and Senate committees that impact on benefits for unemployed workers. The ULL is strongly urging legislators to adopt "alternative base" language which allows a worker who may need the most recently completed quarter of earnings to be included in the base period in order to qualify for benefits. The bills that passed out of committee this week do not have that language, and in fact, have some very detrimental language on the "definition of work." Both bills (now committee substitutes) contain a 5% increase in benefits for the first eight weeks of unemployment and a fax reduction for employers. A Department of Labor and Employment Security reorganization proposal was heard in committee on Thursday. The bill establishes 6 divisions within the Department: Workforce and Employment Opportunities; Unemployment Compensation; Workers' Compensation; Blind Services; Safety and Vocational Rehabilitation; However, the Division of Safety was further amended to eliminate private sector coverage except to provide safety inspections and consultation to those employers who request them As the bill moves through the process, we expect to see even more changes and will keep you informed. Tax relief in the form of cuts, rebates and exemptions abound in the legislature this year Although touted as "taxpayer relief", the vast majority of these proposals benefit business not citizens. Given the make up of the House, Senate and Governor's office, and the condition of the economy in Florida today, we expect to see a major reduction in tax revenues come out of this session. It is the feeling of the ULL however that as long as there are portable classrooms, children without textbooks, working families without health care and other social needs being neglected, there is no surplus of funds and no need to reduce taxes. |
|||
| Legislative Update April 2, 1999 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative 1999 Wrap Up | |||
|
|||
This information will be provided as received. Each update will remain on this site as space permits. Informing your membership on our legislative issues is important Please copy and distribute this to your membership. Keep checking back for further updates. |
|||
