Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2014
Senators Say Governor Martinez Should Stop Fighting Unions and Start Focusing on Job Growth
Santa Fe, NM – Recently, Governor Susana Martinez announced that she will be fighting to end union dues from being collected from state workers’ paychecks. According to the governor, the administration is at a current impasse to negotiate contracts with several unions. Some union leaders have called this latest campaign tactic a “declaration of war.” The attack was initiated when the governor sent out a fundraising appeal last week, asking for contributions that could be used to help offset the influence of labor unions. Several senators are saying her focus should be on more important issues, especially considering the fact that union funds are prohibited from being used for political dealings.
New Mexico’s critical issues continue to make headlines including struggles with job creation, lack of transparency in state agencies, education reform and water conservation and preservation. It is speculated that this attempt against unions sparked after they gathered and protested the governor’s latest proposed reforms during this year’s legislative session. According to several senators, she should be focusing on improving the livelihood of New Mexicans. Job creation, they say, would be a good place to start, instead of focusing on the collection of union dues.
“New Mexico has a strong history of respecting worker and union rights. The governor’s desire to limit those rights is the wrong direction for New Mexico,” said Senator Michael Padilla, a member of the Legislative Jobs Council (D-14-Bernalillo). “Our state has lost 40,000 jobs since this governor took office. How is she planning to address that, other than promoting the tax cuts she’s given to large corporations? The legislature, through the Jobs Council, has created a solid plan to create 160,000 jobs over the next 10 years targeted at high growth industries to get our state back on its feet.”
As the only state in the region to show negative job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Mexico lost 3,700 jobs in the year that ended Jan. 31, 2014. The government sector lost most jobs in the state with a decrease of 3,200 jobs. Manufacturing shed 1,500 positions, while business and professional services lost 1,100 jobs and education and health-services lost 1,000 jobs. With numbers like these and many New Mexicans leaving the state for better opportunities, senators can’t help but question why the executive is not attacking the issue head-on.
“Why is the governor attacking working people? She obviously doesn’t know how to create jobs. She should leave people with jobs alone,” added Senator Cisco McSorley (D-15-Bernalillo). “We are 160,000 jobs short of where we should be in New Mexico. Her record concerning employment is dreadful. Nobody forces a person to work for the state. A state employee voluntarily agrees to the terms of their employment that include union fees. The only person with a state job who doesn’t accept the job conditions, it seems, is the governor herself.”
Despite the numerous attempts made by the public, unions and legislators to compromise on reform, policy and law implementation, the governor does not seem interested. Although the governor has denied it, her tactics appear to be in place to gain support for a position on the national stage. Several Democratic senators believe it’s unfortunate that her political ambition continues to trump the priorities and the needs of New Mexicans.
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