----- Original Message -----
From: "Christine Matacic" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 9:38 AM
Subject: [Fwd: Legislative Alert - Federal Action Needed!]
> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Legislative Alert - Federal Action Needed!
> From: "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Thu, June 17, 2010 8:58 am
> To:
> Cc: "Matt DeTemple" <[log in to unmask]>
> "Michael Cochran" <[log in to unmask]>
> [log in to unmask]
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Township Officials:
>
> We received the following from the National Association of Towns and
> Townships (NATaT), which the OTA is a member. The OTA encourages you to
> contact Senators George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown and express your
> opposition to this bill.
>
> Current Ohio law requires only townships with a population of 5,000 or
> more in the unincorporated territory to recognize collective bargaining
> units. A township with a population less than 5,000 in the
> unincorporated territory is permitted to enter into collective
> bargaining agreements but does not require them to do so. S. 3194 /
> S.1611 (Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009) would
> require ALL townships to recognize collective bargaining units,
> regardless of size and budget.
>
> Again, the OTA strongly encourages you to contact Senators Sherrod Brown
> & George Voinovich to express your opposition to this legislation.
> Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
>
>
> ACTION ALERT
>
> The Senate May Soon Consider Mandatory Collective Bargaining Bill
>
> Call your Senators Immediately and Urge Them to Oppose Passage of S.
> 3194 / S. 1611
>
> Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121
>
>
>
> Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that he intends
> to bring his mandatory collective bargaining bill, the Public Safety
> Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 (S. 3194/S. 1611), to the
> floor in the next week. Senator Reid may attempt to amend the bill to a
> small business package scheduled for consideration next week, or ask
> that S. 3194/S. 1611 be considered as a stand-alone bill.
>
>
>
> S. 3194/S. 1611 -- without consideration for state or local laws --
> would:
>
> * Grant every township police officer, firefighter and emergency
> medical technician at the state or local level the right to form and
> join a labor union;
>
> * Direct townships to recognize the employees' labor union;
>
> * Require townships to collectively bargain over hours, wages,
> and the terms and conditions of employment other than pensions;
>
> * Require townships 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 it 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.
>
>
>
> NATaT & OTA's Position:
>
> NATaT & OTA oppose the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
> of 2009 for the following reasons:
>
> * We do not oppose collective bargaining rights for public
> safety officers employed by state and local governments HOWEVER;
>
> * We do not support a federal "one size fits all" solution
>
> * Bill will impose federal requirements on Ohio, where current
> law has worked just fine;
>
> * Proposed legislation would require the Federal Labor Relations
> Authority (FLRA) t scrutinize collective bargaining law in all 50
> states.
>
> * FLRA would have sole discretion in determining if a state law
> is in compliance with the federal requirements - if it is not, the state
> law must be amended.
>
> * Ohio law is not the same, as townships and municipalities with
> less than 5,000 people are not subject to collective bargaining law.
>
> * State and local governments are in the best position to
> determine the nature and extent of collective bargaining rights for
> public safety employees.
>
>
>
> NATaT & OTA's Request of Congress:
>
> NATaT & OTA urge Congress to reject this legislation because it
> undermines township autonomy with respect to making fundamental
> employment decisions, interferes with state and local laws, and may be
> unconstitutional.
>
>
>
> Action
>
> It is imperative that you call your Senators and express your opposition
> to the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act. Call the
> Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your
> Senators' offices. Urge your Senator to vote against the Public Safety
> Employer-Employee Cooperation Act.
>
>
>
>
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