State workers in Alaska deserve to be able to bargain in good faith with the understanding that once a bargained agreement is signed it's a contract. The whole idea of workers negotiating a contract only to have the legislature renegotiate and under-fund or not fund enough to cover these agreements is just plain wrong.

In the past decade the legislators per diem has increased more than 110 percent and they have had healthy increases in their salaries and other expenses as well. I believe the real workers in this state are not sitting in the legislature where salaries and other increases have been made in committee without public discussion or input. The real workers who deserve an honest wage are those people who provide law enforcement, maintain our roads, work on the ferries, and work with our young people and seniors. These people deserve a fair wage and a fair deal from government.

I will propose a study linking legislative pay, benefits and expenses to state workers wages and benefits to determine if a link should be made to even out what appears to be an enormous disparity. Perhaps before any increase in legislative salaries, benefits, or expenses occur it would be appropriate to have state workers on whom they depend vote on legislative increases. If state workers don't approve the package the legislators give themselves without a public vote it would have to return to the appropriate legislative committee until a worker approved package is passed.

This would provide a measure of accountability and fairness that has not been seen in Alaska.

I insist on a continued dialogue between the communities affected by the state's Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan and the Department of Transportation. It is vital that state officials listen directly to the people in each community.

State workers in Alaska deserve to be able to bargain in good faith with the understanding that once a bargained agreement is signed, it's a contract. As your senator, I will work on behalf of all state workers, including employees of the Alaska Marine Highway System.

VOTE GREG MIDDAG FOR STATE SENATE.
RUNNING FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.