UPDATE 4/2: Rep. Casada’s Union bill (HB0913) was rolled in the House State Government Committee to the first calendar of 2014, this was the companion bill to SB0725.
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We did it! We came together once again and made our voices heard.
On Wednesday, March 27th, the Senate Commerce and Labor committee voted down SB0725, Stacey Campfield’s anti-TSEA bill. This was a very harmful bill for TSEA and state employees. The bill would have eliminated TSEA’s ability to provide many crucial services that it currently provides to its membership, including lobbying. The bill would also have required TSEA to receive written authorization from its members if it were to spend dues on anything other than collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustments – even though collective bargaining and contract administration are illegal for state employees in Tennessee! The bill also sought to limit the number of our members who could participate in TSEA’s annual events (keep in mind, unless a member is scheduled off, or is retired from service at the time of an event, the employee is using their approved annual time).
This bill was unnecessary government regulation, dealing with a problem that does not exist. It is important to note that this bill was initiated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which represents the special interests of private businesses, not public employees.
This was a dangerous legislative attack on your association, but thanks to our efforts together, we were able to defeat this bill !
Your calls to the members of the Senate Commerce and Labor committee, your time on the hill this week during Lobby Day, your time on the hill on other committee days not associated with Lobby Day, and your conversations with your co-workers made all the difference.
Of course, we know that this may not be the end of attacks on our association. But for now, please take a moment and enjoy this achievement.
Next, please take a moment to write, email, call, and/or visit the members of the committee who voted NO on SB0725. Thank them for standing up for us and stopping unnecessary legislation that would have hurt your association. and state employees.
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Committee members to thank:
Charlotte Burks
[email protected]
(615) 741-3978
304 War Memorial Building, Nashville TN 37243
Mark Green
[email protected]
(615) 741-2374
4 Legislative Plaza, Nashville TN 37243
Steve Southerland
[email protected]
(615) 741-3851
10 Legislative Plaza, Nashville TN 37243
Reginald Tate
[email protected]
(615) 741-2509
320 War Memorial Building, Nashville TN 37243
Ken Yager
[email protected]
(615) 741-1449
G-19 War Memorial Building, Nashville TN 37243
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You are the heart and soul of this association, and everyone’s efforts together made all the difference today. There is much more work to be done for state employees, but this was absolutely a victory for TSEA.
