PHOENIX, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Arizona legislation would forbid collective bargaining between tens of thousands of public employees and local governments and school districts, officials say.
The measure is one of several bills targeting public employee unions, The Arizona Republic reported Thursday.
The bills also would let taxpayers bring actions against a state agency or political subdivision if it engages in collective bargaining, make it more difficult to deduct dues through union members' paychecks and forbid compensation of public employees for union work while on the job.
The package of bills won approval by a 4-2 vote along party lines from the Senate Government Reform Committee and now moves to the full Senate.
Democrats and union representatives criticized the bills.
Mike Colletto, a lobbyist for the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, said the bills are "going to create a firestorm" among union members and suggested politicians who support them will be targeted by the union at election time.
Arizona is a right-to-work state in which the state does not collectively bargain with employees. But school systems and local governments allow labor groups to bargain over pay and other benefits.
Proponents of the legislation say it's unfair for taxpayers to be saddled with public workers' contracts negotiated by unions.
