Senate committee advances bills aimed at more transparent labor negotiations

The Senate State Government Committee Wednesday advanced three bills that—according to their sponsors—will bring increased transparency to collective bargaining sessions between labor and government entities.

Senate Bill 643 by Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) would open up collective bargaining negotiation sessions between labor and government entities to the public.

Senate Bill 644 by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) would require the Independent Fiscal Office to provide a cost estimate for the coming five years of any collective bargaining agreement and allows the IFO director the authority to try and collect cost information.

Senate Bill 645 by Sen. Pat Stefano (R-Fayette) would require that any collective bargaining agreement be publicly posted by the state, local government, or school district entity two weeks prior to ratification to allow public input.

Garnering the bulk of the debate was Senate Bill 643, which Sen. Aument argued he is introducing to bring the same level of transparency to labor negotiations as other government proceedings.

“I certainly believe secrecy breeds mistrust and transparency is the cornerstone of good government,” he told committee members. “I believe taxpayers deserve the opportunity to at least be present when elected officials negotiate a bargaining agreement that will ultimately be paid for with their tax dollars.”

Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) opposed to the bill, arguing that if this is the case, Sen. Aument should entertain an amendment to the bill that would open House and Senate caucus negotiations to the public.

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.

Sen. Aument distinguished this argument, saying strategy sessions among the various sides of the negotiations would remain secret as executive sessions, just like legislative caucus discussions. He said when both parties are at the table, akin to the House or Senate floor, those sessions should be public.

As to Senate Bill 644, Sen. Folmer said he introduced the bill so that he and other lawmakers can “have the numbers” about the true cost of a collective bargaining agreement when considering the budget.

Minority Chairman Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) criticized the legislation as “redundant” since the Independent Fiscal Office already has access to this information on a year-by-year basis.

Sen. Stefano said his legislation would allow for more informed public input on collective bargaining agreements prior to their finalization.

Sen. Dinniman countered the public already knows the contents of agreements due to media reports and leaks from the negotiation sessions and questioned the usefulness of the legislation.

All three bills passed committee by a seven to four party-line vote and now head to the Senate floor for consideration.

According to Jenn Kocher, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre), the bills are a priority of the Senate Republican caucus and could be moved on the floor sometime this spring.

“These bills are considered to be very timely and important to budget discussions now and in the future,” she said in an email. “The hope is that we can move them in the coming weeks."

Source: The PLS Reporter