Recently, the United States Senate took one step closer to scheduling a vote on a mandatory collective bargaining bill, which would negatively impact local governments nationwide. Senate Bill 3194, also known as the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, was  re-introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., under a Senate rule that allows the bill to come to the floor in as little as 48 hours after introduction, and without committee review. S. 3194 is identical to S. 1611, which was introduced last year, and closely mirrors H.R. 413, which is the House version of the bill.

As of today copy of S. 3194 is not currently available online, but

A copy of S. 1611 can be found HERE

A copy of H.R. 413 can be found HERE

If both chambers adopt the bill, it will be sent to President Obama, who is predicted to sign it since he supported the bill during his time in the Senate. It is expected that there will be a court challenge under the 10^th Amendment.

SDA is joining The National League of Cities, The Colorado Municipal League and the Colorado State Fire Chiefs in opposing this bill.

If S. 3194 passes it would:

• grant every police officer, firefighter, and emergency medical technician at the state or local level the right to form and join a labor union;
• direct local governments to recognize the employees’ labor union;
• require local governments to collectively bargain over hours, wages, and the terms and conditions of employment other than pensions;
• require states and municipal governments to establish an impasse resolution process;
• require that state courts enforce the rights established by this mandatory collective bargaining bill; and
• direct every state — even if that state currently recognizes employee collective bargaining rights — to conform to federal regulations around mandatory collective bargaining within two years of the bill’s effective date and without regard to state or local laws.

Organizations opposed to this bill have been urging members of the Colorado delegation to vote “no” as a preemption of local authority. A copy of the letter to Senator Udall can be found HERE and copy of the letter sent to Senator Bennet can be found HERE.

For more information about this legislative issue, please contact the SDA office at (303) 863-1733.