Reps. Miller, Constan, Dean, Durhal, Gonzales, LeBlanc, Lemmons, Liss, Polidori, Roberts, Switalski, Barnett and Neumann offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 138.

            A resolution to affirm the right of workers to bargain collectively in their labor contracts for wages, working conditions, and benefits, and, in particular, health benefits.

            Whereas, Collective bargaining is a triumph of the labor movement—one won through the valiant efforts of countless numbers of working men and women who literally gave life and limb for the right to organize and bargain collectively. Clearly, collective bargaining set the stage for a working middle class and a host of social, safety, and environmental reforms that led us out of the Great Depression, prepared us for the challenges of World War II, and led us into the postwar boom and beyond; and

            Whereas, The benefits of collective bargaining contributed to much of the social and economic progress of the Twentieth Century. The bargaining table allowed a more cooperative and deliberative process to resolve labor issues and achieve mutually beneficial labor agreements. Indeed, as heralded by the Rolling Stones; "You can't always get what you want; And if you try sometime you find; You get what you need" aptly applies to a collective bargaining process designed to achieve win-win results; and

            Whereas, In recent years, however, some have criticized the collective bargaining process as a dinosaur of the past, one ill-suited to the new world economy. These are typically corporate-inspired attacks especially targeted to those naively unaware of the connection between collective bargaining and the many rights and privileges of the modern workplace. These attacks are frequently directed toward benefits, and, in particular, health benefits. In the spirit of those who won the right of collective bargaining, it is time to end these divisive tactics and reaffirm the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we hereby affirm the right of workers to bargain collectively in their labor contracts for wages, working conditions, and benefits, and, in particular, health benefits; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor and the Office of State Employer.