The all but invisible state worker? Workforce issues low on legislative agenda

State worker issues didn't top the wish list of Gov. Rick Scott when he delivered his final State of the State address and rolled out his roadmap for 2018.

Scott launched his political career eight years ago with a “Let’s Get to Work” campaign but with the exception of a new sexual harassment policy, worker issues were not among the 3,700 words Scott used at the start of his final session.

“Employees” were referenced four times in relation to sexual harassment protections he mandated with an executive order last month and in the $30 million in raises for law enforcement he included in his budget proposal. Otherwise, state workers were all but invisible in Scott’s remarks.

House Speaker Richard Corcoran welcomed lawmakers to Tallahassee for the first day of his final session with a 1,800-word statement of principles that urged them to pursue bold policy changes. His only references to state workers were in the pension and health insurance benefit reforms the House pushed through last session.

State worker advocates opposed both measures that passed mostly along party-line votes.

“They argued the reforms would save money, but I do not understand how without a reduction in benefits,” said Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee. “The devil is in the details and we will see.”

Ausley will be watching this session when the Department of Management Services provides House committees an update on the implementation of a three-tier health insurance benefit with different price points and levels of coverage.

Union officials who represent the more than 100,000 state employees said the absence of workers issues from the governor and speaker’s speech was business as usual. They were not surprised that the two would use about 6,000 words to outline policy goals for the session with workers hardly being mentioned.

“If I were to list all the examples to illustrate the disdain this group has for people who work for a living it would fill up the newspaper,” said Rich Templin of the AFL-CIO.

Scott's staff rejected the criticism. They cited his efforts to increase the number of state employees in law enforcement and his efforts to encourage victims to report sexual harassment in state offices. 

Scott signed an executive order last month that implemented new procedures to investigate sexual bullying and harassment.

"I also want to take a step further and encourage the Legislature to pass a bill that protects state employees who witness their colleagues being harassed or victimized," Scott told the House and Senate. "I want to ensure the identities of these brave individuals are protected so they feel encouraged to participate in investigations."

Scott’s speech called for tax cuts and highlighted how his policies have added 1.5 million jobs and reduced unemployment by nearly two-thirds, down to 3.6 percent.  

“Since he’s been governor we have created a lot of jobs. The basics of working is having a job,” said Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, dismissing criticism of Scott.

Plakon sponsored HB 25, a labor union recertification bill workers say will make it harder to organize workers. The measure requires at least half of a bargaining unit members pay union dues for the group to maintain its certification.

“I filed HB 25 to try to solve what I see as a problem of a small number of people claiming to represent a very large number of people,” said Plakon. “It provides greater transparency, accountability and democratic principles to public section unions.”

Plakon’s proposal is ready for a House vote this week. Meanwhile, four pension proposals supported by labor have yet to be scheduled for a hearing. They would provide a minimum 2 percent cost-of-living increase for retirees and reduce the amount of time workers at Florida State Hospital work with inmates to qualify for special risk benefits.

A special-risk classification has an earlier retirement age and a bigger payout. Other proposals would include ambulance pilots and nurses the 911 operators.

Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, sponsored the pension bill for the hospital workers and said he expects it to be heard in committee.

“Now is the time to recognize the work these people do,” Montford said after Scott spoke to a joint session. “The economy is improving but we still have the lowest number of state employees per capita and when you look at the salaries we pay it is at the end of the trail.”

After years of job cuts, the state government workforce would grow by more than 500 workers under Scott's 2018 proposal. If lawmakers go along with Scott’s plan, it would mark the only time in Scott’s tenure when state employment grew by more than 17 employees.

The legislative session is scheduled to conclude March 9. The House has 16 bills lined up for floor debate Thursday and Friday. The measures would sanction sanctuary cities, repeal red-light cameras and end personal-injury protection requirements for auto insurance.

Reporter James Call can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com.