The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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Discussion

February 27, 2011

Local union fears House legislation

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — An Oklahoma House of Representatives Committee approved legislation to repeal collective bargaining rights for municipal workers last week.

The issue was contentious in Enid, as in other parts of the state, as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee Local 1136 in Enid, was born. The bill’s author, Rep. Steve Martin, R-Bartlesville, said the bill should not be considered union busting, but is designed to give cities more control over their workforce and budget.

City Manager Eric Benson said he has not paid any attention to the legislation because there is a strong relationship with the AFSCME and other unions in Enid. Police and fire unions are not affected by the legislation because they are covered by a different law.

“I don’t speculate on what the Legislature has done or will do and I don’t understand the bill enough. But we have a strong and favorable relationship with our bargaining unit and we will continue to have it, no matter what the state does,” Benson said.

Benson said he is pleased with what the city unions have done and are willing to do on a variety of issues.

“I have a responsibility to the employees of the city, just as I do to the citizens of the city, and we haven’t had any challenges or setbacks in pursuing both of those priorities,” Benson said.

Although Martin said the issue is not one of “union busting,” the president of the 3,000-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers disagrees.

William Bryles said Martin has struck against the union because it formed a chapter in his hometown of Bartlesville and currently is negotiating a contract with the city.

“This is an all-out assault,” Bryles said.

Michael Goodpasture, president of AFSCME Local 1136 in Enid, said the local union is for the right to collective bargain and is against the bill.

“We feel in the years we’ve been able to collectively bargain we have established a good relationship with the city. It’s worked to our advantage and the city’s,” Goodpasture said.

Goodpasture believes the legislation approved last week is a union-busting bill. He said the employees currently have the right to collectively bargain, but if the repeal is approved, many cities’ next steps will be to eliminate unions. If the bill is approved, unions still may exist, but cities are not bound to negotiate with them, as the 2004 law provides.

“It’s hard to undo something we’ve already gotten,” Goodpasture said. “I believe we have the right of free assembly and to come together and bargain for what is fair. It’s a negotiation thing, not demands.

“We don’t have the right to strike, or any of that. All the rhetoric of holding the city hostage has been blown out of proportion.”

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