Senate: Let first responders unionize

AP via SFGate ^ | 5/13/8

[SmithL]

The Senate has given critical approval to legislation to give all police, firefighters and other first responders the right to collective bargaining.

The 69-29 procedural vote proves the bill would survive any possible filibuster attempt. The Senate will vote to send the bill to President Bush later this week.

. . . Cabinet secretaries say they will suggest he veto the bill.

. . .The bill would guarantee public safety officers the right to join unions and bargain over wages, hours and conditions of employment. It also would ban them from going on strike.

[SmithL]

Let's have a Right-to-Work law, first!

[padre35]

Which means the Taxpayer will take it up the backside again, the largest growing Union in the US is Public Sector, which means “We” are paying those increasing wages and benefits no matter how incompetently they do their jobs.

We will be seeing a ton of stuff like this next year...

[CharlesWayneCT]

This is the federal government forcing state and local governments to allow collective bargaining for workers they hire.

[rellimpank]

-—and this is about when I cease calling myself a Republican of any kind-—

[WOBBLY BOB]

“I’d love to continue resuscitation , but it’s time for my mandatory break”.

[Tijeras_Slim]

It worked so well for the TSA.

[hdstmf]

There goes the neighborhood...

[Argus]

“There is no right to strike against the public safety, anytime, anywhere.” - Calvin Coolidge

[Alter Kaker]

“There is no right to strike against the public safety, anytime, anywhere.” - Calvin Coolidge

Did you read the article?

It also would ban them from going on strike.

[DoughtyOne]

I say cut the government employees by about 90%. That would get us back to where we belong. As for the Unions, the government should start thinking about limiting their non-work related activities.

[Uncle Miltie]

The 10th amendment requires that the Feds leave to the States that which is not covered by the Constitution, including their employment practices.

[rellimpank]

--they don't have to strike.

They have gained sufficient power in legislative bodies over the last twenty years that strikes aren't necessary--look at California, for example.

[Argus]

How long do you think that provision would survive?

[this is my name not yours]

They just took a big, fat dump on every volunteer firefighter, EMT, and deputy in the nation. Thanks, jerks.

[joebellis]

Unfortunately, that amendment has been redacted from their copy of the Constitution.

[Arguendo]

Anyone know if McCain has a position on this? I notice he was one of two senators not voting.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00126

[businessprofessor]

It also would ban them from going on strike.

Banning strikes is meaningless. Many states have bans against teacher strikes but teachers still strike without repurcussions. Even without strking, first responders will have many tools to force money from taxpayers. This bill is a terrible intrusion on states' rights and a green light to much higher labor costs.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

look at California, for example.

I assume you are referring to their 16 billion dollar budget deficit?

[Alter Kaker]

How long do you think that provision would survive?

Probably forever, or at least as long as we have at least 40 Republicans left in the Senate. The bill could never get passed without GOP support, and that provision is the major condition that GOP Senators set.

[SmithL]

McCain’s position is to not annoy the unions while not actually supporting them.

[rellimpank]

-—yep—remember the prison guards input to the legislative process?

[Arguendo]

Probably a good time to be away from the Senate campaigning, then.

[DainBramage]

Uhm just how does this dump on volounteers?

[pilipo]

Deaf ears, Uncle Miltie. And blind eyes.

[this is my name not yours]

The union goons are going to run the volunteers out of the departments because they're taking away "valuable union jobs" (i.e. taking jobs that could be filled by dues paying union firefighters). I've seen it happen before. The union takes over then imposes rules relegating volunteer firefighters and EMTs to menial tasks like racking hose and cleaning ambulances. The tax consequences of this are going to be monumental - especially on small and medium-sized towns that rely on volunteers.

I've been a paramedic for 10 years and I was forced out of my home town because this very thing happened to me. In order to keep my advanced life support certs I had to have a minimum amount of patient contact time and I just couldn't do it polishing trucks and stocking supplies.

[bill1952]

Probably forever..

you are nuts.

[TheBlueMax]

“There is no right to strike against the public safety, anytime, anywhere.” - Calvin Coolidge

I’ve spent over 30 years of my life in law enforcement...both local and federal, and I cannot tell you how cheesed off this makes me! No law enforcement officer, anywhere, should be allowed to have collective bargaining rights, since they knew this coming in, and salaries are determined by tax rates.