Firefighters push for collective bargaining
Texas-side firefighters might be a step closer to collective bargaining with the city.
A petition delivered to Texarkana, Texas, officials and since certified by the city secretary requires the City Council to have the public vote whether firefighters can choose representation regarding employment issues. The issue will appear on November’s general election ballot.
Council members heard a first briefing on the petition at their regular meeting Monday. City Manager John Whitson informed the council of what steps it must now take.
“The statute requires that you order an election upon receipt of a certified petition. The ballot language is also dictated by the statute,” he said, referring to state law that dictates the process by which firefighters and police officers can begin collective bargaining with local governments.
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174 states that firefighters and police “are entitled to organize and bargain collectively with their public employer regarding compensation, hours, and other conditions of employment.” Before they can do so, however, voters must elect to allow it.
The law prohibits firefighters and police officers from participating in strikes, lockouts, work stoppages or slowdowns, and it allows for penalties if they do.
A press release issued Monday by the Texarkana, Texas, Firefighters Association appealed to the public for support in the election.
“Texarkana’s firefighters should have a seat at the table when it comes to important public safety matters. They deserve the right to communicate in good faith with their employers about critical issues
affecting their jobs and our community. …
“This ballot initiative will provide your fire fighters with the right to fair representation by an employee association, allowing them a seat at the table to discuss fire department working conditions, training, resource allocation and other matters impacting public safety in Texarkana,” the press release stated.
None of the five people listed on the petition as responsible for its circulation and filing could be reached for comment Monday.
Whitson summarized his view of what is at stake.
“Typically, employee associations who represent a class of employees are local chapters of national unions,” he said. “These associations typically only address matters related to the represented class of employees, which is what they should do.
“I have observed that such collective bargaining efforts result in the represented class gaining employer concessions, often at the expense of other, nonrepresented employees of the organization, especially in public organizations wherein tax revenues, often of finite value, are the major source of revenue intended to meet all needs of the organization.”
Though a council vote is required to add the issue to the November ballot, Whitson made clear that members do not have the option to vote against doing so.
“We’re moving forward,” he said. “We’re just following state statute at this point. We’re pretty much on autopilot until the election.”
City Secretary Jennifer Evans received the petition May 26, according to a press release issued Friday. It needed 428 signatures to move forward, and Evans certified 546, Whitson said at the meeting.
The council has scheduled a public hearing on the issue for June 27, a second briefing for July 11 and a vote for July 25. Online
Petition to Adopt Fire and Police Employees Relations Act:
ci.texarkana.tx.us/ DocumentCenter/View/3594