The Star-Ledger writes that Governor Chris Christie has started negotiations with the Communication Workers of America (CWA) over health care benefits.The governor would like to alter health care benefits through legislation rather than collective bargaining, the approach preferred by the union. It's an interesting debate.
And one I look at in my recent paper. Unlike private sector unions,
public unions can use either the collective bargaining process or
political involvement to affect the outcomes they seek (e.g., improved
wages, pensions, benefits and the size of budgets.) At issue in New
Jersey is whether health care benefits are decided legislatively or in
collective bargaining negotiations. Pensions cannot be negotiated. (That did not stop the legislature from granting a 9
percent pension benefit increase in 2001.)
As for health care benefits Governor Christie says the unions have sought health care benefit increases via statute in order to ensure those provisions were made 'statutorily required and non-negotiable'; and this makes health care a legislative and not a collective bargaining matter. But the union isn't happy about the process working in reverse. That is, the prospect of the legislature and Governor statutorily undoing earlier statutory health care mandates. The CWA claims that those statutory health care increases were first agreed to through collective bargaining. If so, it adds another factor to consider in how unions strategize with politicians: collectively bargain first and then cement into place with state legislation.
As for health care benefits Governor Christie says the unions have sought health care benefit increases via statute in order to ensure those provisions were made 'statutorily required and non-negotiable'; and this makes health care a legislative and not a collective bargaining matter. But the union isn't happy about the process working in reverse. That is, the prospect of the legislature and Governor statutorily undoing earlier statutory health care mandates. The CWA claims that those statutory health care increases were first agreed to through collective bargaining. If so, it adds another factor to consider in how unions strategize with politicians: collectively bargain first and then cement into place with state legislation.
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