SENATE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH MANDATORY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Even more detrimental for the public sector than EFCA or “card check” could be for the private sector?? Think police, fire and EMS! Where is the power reserved to the states?
Friday, November 19, 2010
Subject: Mandatory Collective Bargaining Alert
Senate Expected to Take up Mandatory Collective Bargaining after Thanksgiving
There may be only a few weeks left in this legislative session but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he will take up the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act before adjournment, possibly the week of November 29. The measure, S. 3194, is expected to be brought up as a stand-alone bill.
The bill requires states and localities to engage in collective bargaining with their police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel. Particularly problematic is that it gives the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) responsibility for determining which states are in compliance with the federal law. For those that are not (and do not enact legislation) the bill gives the FLRA the power to adopt regulations defining the scope of collective bargaining. This bill would provide a precedent for federal interference in employer-employee relationships in state and local government.
If the Senate passes the bill, the House of Representatives is expected to take it up. In July 2010, the House passed the bill as an amendment to a supplemental spending bill. The vote in favor of the PSEECA was 239-182. If the House has the opportunity to vote on the measure again, it is likely to pass.
Congress will be in recess next week for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Senators may be reached in their state offices and will return to Washington the week of November 29. Contact information for Senators is easily available at: www.senate.gov.
International Public Management Association for Human Resources
1617 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
P: 703-549-7100 | F: 703-684-0948 | www.ipma-hr.org
