Lawmaker Wants To End Mandatory Union Dues For Pa. Employees

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - A Pennsylvania lawmaker has introduced legislation that would end mandatory payment of union dues as a condition of employment in the state, but it's unclear how willing lawmakers are to tackle the explosive issue.

Butler County House Republican Daryl Metcalfe said he does not believe the turmoil in Wisconsin over union legislation will make it more difficult to pass his legislation. Just the opposite, "I think what's happened in Wisconsin, what's been happening in New Jersey, what's happened in Ohio, that that's created momentum for our country as people become more informed."

While Metcalfe wants to end mandatory union dues, he is not attempting to reduce collective bargaining rights of public worker unions.

Governor Tom Corbett's spokesman has said Corbett would sign so-called "right-to-work" legislation like Metcalfe's, while expressing doubt it would get to his desk.

Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Republican majority leaders, was asked to handicap the prospects for the legislation in the House, "The right-to-work legislation is definitely something that will be looked at, but the immediate priority now is the no new or increased tax budget that we're going to hopefully pass by May 31st."

Over in the Senate, where Republicans are also in control, a spokesman for the majority leader says the Senate will likely wait to see what the House does and decide what to do then.

Read more about unions in Pennsylvania in the KYW Regional Affairs Council series, "State of the Unions."

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060