Hawaii Tribune-Herald - Lingle To Veto 'Card Check' Bill

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Hawaii Tribune-Herald - Lingle To Veto 'Card Check' Bill

by Nancy Cook Lauer
Stephens Media

A bill making it easier for workers to unionize faces likely death at the point of her veto pen, Gov. Linda Lingle said Friday.

Speaking to reporters after addressing the Hilo Rotary Club, the Republican governor said the so-called "card-check" bill, HB 952, was a bad idea when she vetoed it last year during relatively good economic times and it's a worse idea now.

"It would send a signal that we're going to make it harder for people to do business; it would tip the balance against them in favor of labor unions," Lingle said. "It was wrong last year at the height of the economic expansion and it's certainly not going to be right now."

Her comments come as her administration struggles with public bargaining sessions and lawsuits from the state's public-sector unions over furloughs and other concessions to help balance a state budget that came up $3 billion short.

It's also the week that Hawaii's ranking as the fifth-worst state in which to do business made news.

Directorship magazine ranked Hawaii 46th, ahead of New Mexico, Kentucky, Rhode Island and West Virginia, based on eight major indexes of attractiveness to business, including labor costs, taxes, litigation, economy and education.

Lingle has until June 30 to indicate which bills are in danger of being vetoed. All bills must be signed or vetoed by July 15 or they become law without the governor's signature.

HB 952 passed the Senate with five no votes and the House with 10 opposed. Rep. Denny Coffman, D-North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, was the only Big Island lawmaker voting against it.

State majority Democratic lawmakers plan to caucus when they get the list of threatened vetoes. If they plan an override session, it will be scheduled July 15, said majority spokesmen for the House and Senate.

The card-check plan, backed by labor unions, would allow workers to organize by simply signing authorization cards, rather than voting by secret ballot.

"Our working families want and deserve to have a level playing field," said Buzz Hong, executive director of the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, in testimony this session. "The health of the economy is improved by making possible for workers to form unions and bargain for a better life."

The bill is similar to legislation being proposed at the national level in President Barack Obama's "Employee Free Choice Act."

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