Legislation Would Create Bargaining System for Fire & Police Personnel

Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007

A 1971 state law allows South Dakota corrections officers, police and firefighters the right to negotiate wages, hours and conditions of employment through a union, but labor officials say the state's collective bargaining laws favor employers. That could change with a bi-partisan bill now in the U-S Senate. Paul Aylward (all-word) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in South Dakota says the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act already passed the house, and it would be a significant improvement on current state law.

Right-to-Work proponents are opposed to the law, saying it would lead to public safety officials striking. Aylward calls those fears unfounded.

The legislation would create a bargaining system for fire and police personnel with oversight from the Federal government. State legislatures could approve their own public safety bargaining laws, but if state law fails to meet federal standards the Federal Labor Relations Authority can step in and take over negotiations.