... The time of easy money is gone. Public employee's have to pony up for their benefits just like the rest of us are (if we have them.)
The healthcare is simply part of the total compensation package, but doesn't show up "on the check".
The only think I can see happening with other unions with relation to states, is getting rid of laws that require contracts to only go to union shops, or pay prevailing union wages.
From context, I assume you're talking about Project Labor Agreements, but it's obvious you're parroting something you've heard, and don't understand that PLA's simply set standards of pay and benefits a contractor has to pay, union or not. Agreed, that's usually somewhere close to the union scale. Anybody can bid, as long as they follow the guidelines. Problem is, the non-union contractor doesn't want his employees to know that it's possible to pay them a decent wage, and doesn't want them getting used to it.
The unions support PLA's, even if a non-union contractor gets the bid.
PLA prohibition is vaguely covered in SB 333.
Not sure what other laws there might be regarding unions, but the unholy alliance between unions and the Democratic party must be broken.
How many Republicans are looking to form an alliance with working people? No, they're in the pocket of corporate America.
The main issue over which the Democrats left the state is HB 1468, or "Right to Work" legislation. Previously posted this in the POTUS 2012 thread, where the issue was raised.
For someone who has never been in a labor union, it might be kind of confusing. So, on a larger scale, let's say, we all live in a society, and we all pay taxes for services and amenities that are a benefit to society as a whole. But in this example, anybody who wanted to, could opt out of paying taxes, but they would still be allowed to ***** at the .gov for not fixing the potholes, et al. (this would be analogous to grievance representation, administration of retirement and healthcare benefits, etc.) As a matter of fact, we have a whole class of folks right now who pay no taxes, suck at the .gov teat, and complain the loudest. We call them leeches.
Now, back to the job. What's the advice of the conser...no...repub...no...beck & limbaugh worshippers, when a majority of the workers at a place of employment is attempting to organize, in order to collectively bargain for dignity, respect, a voice, to have safety concerns addressed, and fair compensation? It goes something like, "why form a union to improve conditions at your current place of employment? If you don't like the job, quit, and go find one somewhere else". So, if you have to be part of a union to work somewhere, but for whatever personal reason, you don't want to pay dues, then, um, why not quit, and go find a job somewhere else?