Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Public Safety Unions to Gain Collective Bargaining Rights in VA?

Looks like it will be so, as a bill that will provide exactly that passed easily through the House with a vote of 314-97, and will probably pass through the Senate pretty easily, as well. This would give the police and firefighter unions unprecedented bargaining power in both Virginia and North Carolina. The bill passed through the House with a lot of bipartisan support.

While I'm normally very wary of unions, I'm a bit more lenient towards the ability for public safety unions to have bargaining power. As the son of a 29-year veteran of the D.C. Fire Department, I grew up around the fire department. These people are out there every day, saving lives and protecting the public...they deserve good salary and benefits.

The D.C. Fire Department has NEVER gone on strike. Let's hope that ability for the government and the unions to coexist and come to agreements spreads south into Virginia.

No comments: