HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2275
A Resolution No aa7s
OPPOSING
THE PROPOSED MEET AND CONFER LEGISLATION
FOR POLICE AND FIRE
WHEREAS House Bi112822 and Senate Bill 1404 relating to certain conditions of employment
for firefighters and police officers m certain municipalities have. been filed m this session of the
Texas Legislature and
WHEREAS, both bills attempt to lower the population bracket of existing law to include the
City of Fort Worth as an eligible city that can adopt provisions of Subchapter I of Chapter 143 of
the Local Government Code which currently only apply to the City of Austin, and
WHEREAS, Subchapter I includes provisions that allow for a municipality by City Council
action to adopt a policy that formally recognizes police and fire associations as bargaining agents
on matters of wages, grievances, labor disputes, rates of pay hours of employment, or conditions
of work affecting police and fire employees and
WHEREAS, the legislation would establish a procedure whereby police and fire associations
could each bargain collectively with the City Manager and City Council on employment matters
and upon agreement could establish a written agreement that if ratified by the Crty Council and
the respective members of each association would be binding on the Crty• and
WHEREAS, the legislation would also include mandatory provisions and procedures related to
the investigation of police and fire employees and would prohibit polygraph examinations of
police and fire employees under certain conditions, and
WHEREAS, this legislation as well as other proposed meet and confer" legislation currently
under consideration attempts to allow police and fire associations the ability to access certain
provisions of Chapter 174 of the Local Government Code relating to collective bargaining
without first seeking a public referendum and vote of the citizens as is current law• and
WHEREAS, while the legislation is permissive, if passed, the pressure to recognize and bargain
with a police or fire association on employment matters would be constant and great; and
WHEREAS, given the recent City of Fort Worth budget years which required drastic cuts in
programs, binding agreements on wages and benefits are not m the best interest of taxpayers
since such agreements would not give future Crty Councils and the Crty Manager the flexibility
to deal with emergencies and changes m the local economy and
CITY OF FORT WORTH
.~ .
WHEREAS, the meet and confer legislation as passed for the City of Austin is not necessary m
Fort Worth since police and fire associations are generally consulted on employment matters
and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has been generous m providing increases m salaries and benefits
for police and fire employees when resources are available;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS,
That the Crty of Fort Worth opposes HB 2822 and SB 1404 relating to meet and confer
and any other legislation under consideration that attempts to establish provisions of
collective bargam~ng without a public referendum, and
2 That the Crty Council directs staff to distribute copies of this resolution and express the
City's position as appropriate to members of the Legislature as the related legislation is
considered.
Adopted this 15th day of Apnl, 1997
Mayor Kenneth Barr
APPROVED
CITY COU~C1~
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CITY OF FORT WORTH