Archives for February 2015

 
SANTA FE – A bruising political battle over whether to add New Mexico to the list of states with right-to-work laws is moving on to the Senate after the House voted 37-30 late Wednesday to approve the change in state labor laws.
House Republicans unanimously backed the right-to-work measure, along with an attached minimum wage increase of 50 cents per hour, while Democrats were nearly unified – just one Democrat voted in favor – in opposing it.
“I believe this is ill-timed, ill-advised and nothing more than a distraction from the problems that are facing our state,” said Rep. Javier Martinez, an Albuquerque Democrat.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dennis Roch, R-Logan, described the measure as one that would hopefully improve New Mexico’s economy, but said its fundamental aim was to give more freedom to workers, saying, “We, as Americans, love choice.”
“It’s seeking to ensure that any worker, whether in the private or public sector, does not have to contribute to a union or another organization as a condition of employment,” Roch said.
The proposed law would mean nonunion employees – in both the private and public sectors – would not have to pay union fees or risk losing their jobs. Though union membership cannot be required under federal law, such fees can be mandated under contracts in unionized workplaces.
 
Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, argues against a proposed amendment to the right-to-work bill on the House floor Wednesday night.
Labor union leaders and most Democratic lawmakers have opposed the right-to-work measure, arguing it would stifle worker pay and weaken unions. Rep. Dona Irwin, D-Deming, was the lone Democrat who voted for the bill.
But representatives from multiple business groups have contended it would improve New Mexico’s economic climate and could lead to more corporations moving to the state.
Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, said during Wednesday’s debate that a right-to-work law could help wean the state off a historic dependence on the oil and gas industry, and government spending.
The House vote on the right-to-work bill was delayed last week after some rank-and-file Republican lawmakers balked at its inclusion of a minimum wage increase, from $7.50 to $8 per hour, with a six-month training period.
However, all GOP legislators present for Wednesday’s vote – one was absent – ended up backing the legislation.
The final vote came after a GOP-backed amendment was adopted over the objections of Democrats. The amendment calls for the minimum wage increase to be struck down should a judge invalidate the right-to-work portion of the bill.
House Democrats criticized the inclusion of the minimum wage hike, saying it would not be a meaningful increase, taking issue with Republican claims that it represented an attempt to find common ground.
“There was no effort in striking a deal,” said Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park. “There’s no compromise.”
While public testimony was not allowed Wednesday, per usual legislative procedure for floor votes, roughly 50 union leaders and members were present for the final vote.
Vincent Bovenzi, an International Brotherhood of Electric Workers union member who works at Los Alamos National Laboratory, told the Journal the fight over right-to-work legislation isn’t over.
“Absolutely, I’m disappointed, but hopefully we’ll shoot it down in the Senate,” he said.
Four states have adopted right-to-work laws since 1993 and similar legislation has been debated this year in at least three other states – Wisconsin, Kentucky and Missouri.
In New Mexico, there were about 43,000 union members in 2014, or about 5.7 percent of the state’s total workforce, private and public service, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. That union membership rate was down from 2013 and below the national average of 11.1 percent.
Despite Wednesday’s vote, the right-to-work bill could face tougher odds in the Senate as top-ranking Senate Democrats have vowed to kill the measure in their chamber. Democrats hold a 25-17 majority in the Senate, while Republicans have a 37-33 advantage in the House.
Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican who just began her second term in office, has indicated support for both the right-to-work legislation and the proposed minimum wage hike.
By: Dan Boyd (Albuquerque Journal)
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In August, the HUD-1 and Good Faith Estimate go away. In their place are new forms and new procedures, including a rule that the closing disclosure be given to buyers 3 days before the closing. That’s the headline story in The Voice for Real Estate for the week of Feb. 23, 2015. Other stories: The FAA releases a long-awaited proposed rule on drones and two new reports see gains coming in commercial real estate.
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By: National Association of REALTORS®

A strong majority of New Mexico voters favor the underlying principle of right-to-work legislation being debated by lawmakers, according to a new Journal Poll.

Sixty percent of those surveyed said workers should not be required, as a condition of employment, to pay union dues or fees in organizations that have collective bargaining agreements with unions.

Twenty-six percent said dues or fees should be required under those circumstances, while 14 percent were undecided, didn’t know or wouldn’t say, according to the poll of 402 registered voters conducted Feb. 17-19.

Right-to-work legislation has emerged as one of the hotly debated issues in this year’s legislative session, sparked by a GOP majority in the House for the first time in 60 years and supported by Gov. Susana Martinez. The bill that has moved the farthest along during this session is HB75, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Roch, R-Logan. It is called the “Employee Preference Act.”

The poll, conducted by Research & Polling Inc., shows that the “vast majority” of Republicans – 74 percent – oppose mandatory union fees, along with a plurality of Democrats – 47 percent. Independents came in at 68 percent in opposition.

“Party affiliation is a major predictor,” said Research & Polling Inc. President Brian Sanderoff. “Republicans are much more supportive; however, even a plurality of Democrats feel that union fees or dues should not be required.”

Results also showed that support for the basic premise of right-to-work legislation increased along with the level of education. Seventy percent of those with a graduate degree or who had done graduate work opposed the mandatory fees.

The proposed change in New Mexico’s labor laws would mean nonunion employees – in both the private and public sectors – could not be required to pay union fees as a condition of employment over their objection. Such fees, under what is known as a union security agreement, can currently be mandated in workplaces covered by collective bargaining agreements if both employer and union agree to it.

Opponents say the measure would stifle worker pay and benefit levels, while backers contend it would make the state more attractive to businesses and give employees freedom of choice.

The bill cleared the House Business and Employment Committee on an 8-5 vote on Jan. 29, then was approved by the House Judiciary Committee 7-6 on Feb. 13.

It was scheduled to be voted on in the House last week but was delayed as some GOP lawmakers balked at a plan to tie a 50-cent-per-hour minimum wage increase to the proposal.

The proposal has drawn opposition from Democratic lawmakers and labor unions.

Right-to-work proposals have faltered in the Legislature in recent years, and approved legislation was vetoed in 1979 and 1981. But there has been a move to adopt them elsewhere, with Michigan and Indiana doing so in 2012. Twenty-four states now have right-to-work laws.

Based on the November general election results, New Mexico Republicans now hold a 37-33 majority in the House. However, Democrats still hold an advantage in the Senate, and top-ranking Democratic senators have voiced opposition to right-to-work legislation.

In New Mexico, there were about 43,000 union members in 2014, or about 5.7 percent of the state’s total workforce, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. That union membership rate was down from 2013 and below the national average of 11.1 percent.

The poll asked: “Do you think that workers should or should not be required to pay union dues or fees, as a condition of employment, in organizations that have collective bargaining agreements with unions?”

It was based on a scientific, statewide sample of 402 registered voters. Fifty-two percent of the calls were to cellphones. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

By: Ellen Marks (Albuquerque Journal)

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The LIN February 2015 Properties were presented at the LIN Meeting on February 18, 2015. Fourteen excellent properties were presented. Thank you for presenting properties and attending the meeting! Thank you to our host, 4129 Montgomery Blvd NE.
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