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State, ASEA miles apart in labor talks
Union asking for double the current offer
Contract negotiations between the state and its largest public employees union are at an impasse. The talks broke down yesterday afternoon, according to Alaska State Employee Association Business Manager Chuck O'Connell, who says money is the key. He says state employees are tired of losing ground to annual hikes in inflation. Administration Commissioner Bob Poe (right) says the state's offer is a fair one, considering the state's financial situation. He said the union's most recent proposal was well over two times what the state is offering. Poe says the state will welcome the participation of a federal mediator to help bring the union back to the economic reality that the state currently faces. Mediation is scheduled to begin February 7th. Union members voted late last fall to authorize a strike if no agreement is reached or if the Legislature refuses to fund any negotiated settlement.
Governor Tony Knowles is expected to make the long awaited announcement on Monday morning whether Juneau residents will one day be traveling to Skagway via a road, or if the state will pursue one of several options for increasing ferry service in northern Lynn Canal to Haines and Skagway. The governor will make the revelation in Juneau before traveling to Anchorage to comment on additional elements of a new transportation plan. The Juneau Access Study, which identified the options for travel in the Lynn Canal corridor, has been several years in the making.
Three Juneau residents are among the four finalists to become the next executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. They are former State Senator Jim Duncan (left), outgoing Goldbelt President and CEO Joe Beedle and Robert Storer, the chief investment officer for the Department of Revenue's Treasury Division. The other finalist is former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor and lawmaker Mike Navarre. Interviews are planned January 28. The plan is to announce a selection that day or by the end of the month at the latest, according to Gruening. The successful candidate will replace former Juneau Mayor Byron Mallott. He resigned last month to take a job running the AFN Foundation.
Police retrieved a stolen vehicle that was taken from a driveway in the Switzer Village Trailer Park just before 7:30 last evening. A 23 year old suspect was charged in the case. An officer spotted the Black Jeep Cherokee near Fred Meyer about 20 minutes after the owner called, according to Sergeant Jerry Nankervis. The officer found four people in the car including Christopher Williams, Junior, who was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, DWI and driving with a revoked license.
A one vehicle roll over occurred just before 11:00 last night near Fred Meyer. Police said the operator lost control while driving outbound. It came to rest on its top off the road in the area between Egan Drive and the store. No injuries were reported to the two occupants. The van, which was valued at about $8,000, was totaled. Police say there was black ice on the roadway at the time. Citations are pending additional investigation.
There's another budget plan today. This one suggested by minority democrats in the Legislature. One element calls for increased taxes on the sale of alcoholic beverages, which Juneau Senator Kim Elton (right) says would raise $70-million. He says the state is now collecting far less than it spends dealing with the effects of alcoholism. Another element calls for the use of no more than 20 percent of the income stream from Permanent Fund earnings for general government support. Senator Elton says a proviso caps that use at 20 percent and only after the fund is inflation-proofed and dividends are paid. The minority plan also provides that oil companies in Alaska will pay the same effective corporate income tax rate that Alaska-based businesses pay. Oil companies are paying less than 6 percent while other companies ante up over 9 percent. Elton says that equalizes the playing field. Elton introduced the bills addressing those points today. Companion legislation was also introduced in the House.
Juneau's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent last month. That's down 1 percent from November. Just under 700 Capital City residents were unemployed in December. A year ago December, the unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. Skagway, Hoonah, Angoon census area's rate increased from 5.6 percent to 10.4 percent. Last year's rate was 6.7 percent. Unemployment in Haines increased from 11.4 percent in November to 12.3 percent in December. A year ago the rate was 12.1 percent.
Alaska's unemployment rate of 5.9 percent in December tied the all-time low set for the month which was initially established 2 years ago. Unemployment for all of 1999 averaged 6.4 percent, according to State Labor Economist John Boucher (left), who says that's the second lowest in 20 years. The lowest was in 1998 which witnessed an average of 5.9 percent. Boucher says Alaska saw its usual seasonal job loss in the construction, seafood processing, timber and transportation industries last month. Retailers and the Postal Service added staff during the holiday season.
Two Juneau firms are among the eight Alaska manufacturers awarded grants to help them market value-added salmon products. Taku Fisheries received over $45,000 for integrating a mail order business onto an Internet site. Alaska Seafood Company received nearly $28,000. Company President Dick Hand says its for shelf stable smoked caviar aimed at the fancy foods market. Over $300,000 was awarded in all in a combined program involving the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service and the State Department of Community and Economic Development.
University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton tells the Juneau Daily News Online that he estimates the state will need to invest an additional $100-million in the university over the next 5 years. He admits that may cause a "gasp" among lawmakers looking to pare state spending. He pointed out in the interview that there's no state or developed nation that has ever moved forward economically without a significant investment in its university system. Governor Knowles inserted the university's request for a $16.9-million dollar increase in his budget for next fiscal year. Hamilton is scheduled to address a joint session of the Finance Committees to defend the increase on February 3rd.
The US Supreme Court today agreed to decide whether states like Alaska can let voters cast their ballots for any candidate in primary elections, regardless of party affiliation. The court says it will hear arguments by 4 California political parties that the state's voter-approved "blanket primary" law violates their constitutional right of association.Weather delays meteorite hunt
Weather continues to ground the search by planes in the Yukon Territory for the impact site and remnants of the suspected meteor that hit last Tuesday morning into Caribou Mountain near Carcross. An official with the Emergency Measures Organization in Whitehorse says the air search probably won't resume now until Monday at the earliest. The agency continues to collect eyewitness accounts. The blue streak was spied by many has it passed below the clouds in Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory before eight Alaska time Tuesday morning.
The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears' men were defeated by the Service during Alaska PrepShootout play in Anchorage yesterday. The Cougars out clawed the Bears 77 to 61. Juneau's scheduled to play Buckland today. Buckland lost to Wasilla yesterday. That game is scheduled to be broadcast on KINY at 3:50 this afternoon -- listen here.
The Ouzinkie Native Corporation has moved deeper into the tourism business by purchasing the Katmai Wilderness Lodge. The Native corporation is based in the village of Ouzinkie on Spruce Island, near Kodiak. The lodge was built on a 3.2-acre in-holding at Kukak Bay, which is bordered by Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Comtech 2000, Juneau's technology training forum and trade show, is scheduled February 2nd to the 4th at Centennial Hall. Organizer Susan Favro said on KINY's Capital Chat thismorning that people can sign up on line. Favro was joined on the program by Comtech volunteers Jay Druyvestein and John Corso. Registration is available here or by calling 789-6345. Comtech been going on since 1996. It was the brainchild of the Alaska Committee to enhance access to the capital. (In photo, left to right, Jay Druyvestein of the State Technology Information Group, Comtech Organizer Susan Favro, and City Attorney John Corso at KINY studios this morning)
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