Heineman: Labor court needs more than tweaks (EXCLUSIVE)

[Omaha Steve]

The CIR settles contract disputes for my local union. For those that don't know, I work for the City of Omaha.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/701029908#heineman-labor-court-needs-more-than-tweaks

By Matt Wynn WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER WORLD-HERALD EXCLUSIVE

Two state senators are working to overhaul Nebraska's court for public labor disputes, but Gov. Dave Heineman says the legislation will have to call for big changes to get his blessing.
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“I'm not going to sign a bill into law that just tweaks it on the margin,” Heineman said. “The only changes I'm willing to sign into law are those that are meaningful and significant.”

Local government and school district leaders routinely blame the Commission of Industrial Relations, or CIR, for budget problems, he said, and he wants those who “complain, whine and criticize” the system to get involved in the talks being led by Sens. Brad Ashford and Steve Lathrop.

If the proposed changes don't go far enough, the governor said, it might be worth scrapping the system altogether.

“Can you make meaningful change with the CIR?” he asked. “Or is the only way to do it to eliminate it? I don't think you can have just a narrow plan if you're going to have change.”

Lathrop said he thinks the bill will meet the governor's expectations.

Government leaders such as Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and Douglas County Board member Mike Boyle have said the CIR unfairly ties their hands when it comes to negotiating wages and benefits. The Nebraska Association of School Boards has called on lawmakers to come up with alternatives to the CIR for settling contract impasses with teachers unions.

FULL article at link.