A former state representative on Wednesday demanded Schuylkill County commissioners repeal a Feb. 26 resolution supporting changes to a state law that requires local governments to collect union dues on behalf of public employees.

The automatic collections can be negotiated into contracts.Former Democratic state Rep. Tim Seip of Pine Grove, who serves as secretary for the county Democratic Committee Executive Board, read from a prepared statement at a commissioners' workshop meeting."It is astounding that you would favor treating working-class employees, who happen to have a collective bargaining agreement, differently than you treat other groups and entities," he said."The county, under your direction, routinely deducts insurance copays and health insurance costs from paychecks. Charitable contributions are deducted from paychecks, certain amounts of paychecks are diverted to bank accounts, certain amounts of paychecks are diverted to large investment groups, and many other deductions are made from employee paychecks at your direction," Seip said.Seip gave commissioners and other officials copies of a March 9 Democratic Committee resolution demanding the repeal.Commissioners did not respond to Seip's demand.After the commissioner's meeting, Seip delivered copies of the demand for repeal to the offices of state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29; state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124; and state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125.Democratic Commissioner Gary Hess at a March 12 public meeting presented Republican Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. with the resolution.Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier was absent.Hess said at the time that he did not expect a response from Halcovage, but that he wanted his fellow commissioners to read and consider the resolution.Seip on Wednesday was accompanied by four men, all of whom are members of nonpublic worker unions.Seip, who teaches social work at Kutztown University, belongs to a public employee union, APSCUF, Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties.The move to change state law, known as paycheck protection legislation, is largely divided along party lines, with Republicans favoring the change and Democrats opposing it.Halcovage has said the automatic collections are a misuse of taxpayer money and weaken union accountability to members.Hess has said the deductions ensure that all dues are collected.Two bills wending their way through the state legislature would bar unions from negotiating the automatic union dues deductions from paychecks.Prison guards, firefighters and police officers unions are exempt from the legislation.