Log In
Forgot Log In
Register
Flickr
Twitter
YouTube
RSS FeedsTN Labor Council - Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday January 27th, 2012
The Calm Before the Storm Part 2: More Talking, Less Working, Hurry Up and Wait.
Much like last week this week was more about posturing and agenda setting than it was about passing legislation. One of the major announcements was Gov. Haslam decision to dismantle the civil service system for state employees. This would put many more state employees’ jobs under threat simply due to political affiliations.
Another major area that was discussed was changing the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). The proposed changes would, as Sen. Minority Leader Jim Kyle said, “would allow the state to do the local government’s dirty work.” Ultimately most of these changes would decrease, or in other ways harm the benefits and plan terms for new hires. Other changes, which would negatively impact workers, include the possibility of raising the retirement age and changing from a defined benefit program to a defined contribution plan. Under the recommendation, local entities could require new employees to contribute 2.5% of earnings to the plan. Current employees contribute either nothing or 5%. Also, the entities could freeze, suspend, or modify benefits and plan terms in the future—without affecting accrued benefits—for the new hires.
Political Forecast:
People who are NOT running for office:
State Senator Bill Ketron, known for his bill to create a sovereign state currency, announced this week that he will NOT be seeking office in the 4th Congressional district. This surprised many political insiders given that he had fought hard to make sure that Rutherford county, his home county, was in that district.
State Senator Roy Herron, declared this week that he will NOT be seeking re-election. Instead he will be taking a job at the Ned McWherter Center for Rural Economic Development.
ACTION ALERT: Like a thief in the Night:
Although we spend many hours, pouring over 1,641 bills filed this year and the 2,120 from last year (that’s a total of 3,762 bills) occasionally one or two anti-labor bills will sneak by disguised as harmless “technical correction” bills. SB2140 by Senator Brian Kelsey is one such bill. Under senate bill 2140 if an employee is fired for filing a worker's compensation claim they would not be able to take legal action to get their job reinstated. This bill will be heard before the senate judiciary committee this Tuesday. We strongly urge you to contact members of the committee and tell them that you OPPOSE this bill which would take away important workers rights.
See language for the bill here:
wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/
Please contact these Senators:
Dist. 17 Sen. Mae Beavers (R) Chair, 615-741-2421 Email:sen.mae.beavers@capitol.
Dist. 9 Sen. Mike Bell (R) Secretary, 615-741-1946 Email:sen.mike.bell@capitol.
Dist. 22 Sen. Tim Barnes (D), 615-741-2374 Email:sen.tim.barnes@capitol.
Dist. 7 Sen. Stacey Campfield (R) 615-741-1766 Email:sen.stace.campfield@
Dist. 31 Sen. Brian Kelsey (R) 615-741-3036 Email:sen.brian.kelsey@
Dist. 29 Sen. Ophelia Ford (D) 615-741-1767 Email:sen.ophelia.ford@
Dist. 30 Sen. Beverly Marrero (D) 615-741-9128 Email:sen.beverly.marrero@
Dist. 8 Sen. Doug Overbey (R) 615-741-0981 Email:sen.doug.overbey@
Dist. 12 Sen. Ken Yager (R) 615-741-1449 Email:sen.ken.yager@capitol.
Watch the committee meeting here: wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/
Other Items of Note:
In regards to Occupy Nashville, Rep. Eric Watson said, “A fight broke out yesterday, and there was a guy streaking today, running out here naked.” We suspect this view from his office is why he has filed a bill to evict Occupy Nashville.
Printer friendly version