A bill that would prohibit subcontracting of public education workers while they have current collective bargaining agreements and grants unions the right to negotiate the impact of subcontracting on workers passed the Assembly Education Committee Monday (2/11/13). The bill, A3627, still has far to go to become law, as both the State Assembly and Senate would have to pass the proposed legislation and the Governor would have to sign it.
Council of NJ State College Locals President Tim Haresign (a Stockton College Biology Professor) and AFTNJ Communications Director Nat Bender testified in favor of the bill on behalf of AFTNJ’s 30,000 members.
Haresign said, “Stable, middle class jobs are essential to strong and steady economic growth. Too many employers sub-contract, outsource and downsize without regard to the impact on their employees, the services they perform, and the communities in which they live. Often subcontracting turns out to be ‘penny wise and pound-foolish.’ This bill provides a measure of security and a process by which proposals to subcontract can be duly considered. While we strongly support this legislation we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to urge that similar legislation be put forward at the earliest opportunity in order to extend the protections in this bill to all public sector employees.” (See full Haresign’s full testimony.)
Bender said, “In my career working at Rutgers University, subsequently serving as a union leader and in my current staff role, I have seen outsourcing in janitorial operations, skilled trades, security and printing at institutions of higher education. This legislation would have benefitted members impacted by decisions to outsource operations, where otherwise management invoked its prerogative to act unilaterally. Our state federation would also like to encourage the legislature to consider comparable legislation for all public workers. Implementation of such legislation may be too late for workers at Buttonwood Hospital in Burlington County or New Jersey Network, but perhaps it will help public workers who work for the state functions such as the lottery or many other roles considered for subcontracting.” (See full Bender testimony.)
Employers’ groups testified against the bill, arguing that it would increase costs and limit the ability to subcontract. However, that is not the case, according to AFTNJ Lobbyist Pete Guzzo. “Rather than restricting public employers as more far-reaching legislation might, this bill simply provides a more fair framework for dealing with workers when a public school district or higher education institution considers replacing them with a subcontract.”
AFTNJ will monitor the progress of this bill and advocate for worker-friendly legislation, according to President Donna M. Chiera. “It is critical that we work with other public and private-sector union allies in Trenton and Washington to advance education and labor-friendly policies,” she said. “This worthy bill provides a measure of protection for workers and a fair process. We thank the legislators who are sponsoring this legislation and will continue to encourage their colleagues to vote for its passage.”
Assemblymen Dr. Herb Conaway, Ralph Caputo and Assemblywomen Connie Wagner are primary sponsors of the legislation. Republican Diane Allen is the primary sponsor of the Senate version, S1191, with seven Democratic Senators as co-sponsors.