Year End Legislative Update
As we come to the end of 2011 I thought it would be a good idea to do a final update. As you all know, 2011 was a very challenging year legislatively. It started with the attempt by legislators to totally do away with PA 312 (binding arbitration), as the year went on the legislature attacked the public sector from every angle with an onslaught of proposed bills. As of this writing four of the bills were signed into law, and a few more are in the committee process. Here is an overview of some of the major bills.
Emergency Action on House Bill 4059!
From POAM.net
YOU MUST COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MICHIGAN SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING HOUSE BILL 4059 IMMEDIATELY!
Republican Representative Marty Knollenberg has sponsored H.B. 4059 which would amend the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) and prohibit public employer contracts that pay union officials for time conducting union business. H.B. 4059 bans the use of negotiated release time for union officers and outlaws any on-duty actions between local leaders and the administration, including contract negotiations and critical incidents.
This legislation saves local municipalities next to nothing. As you well know, release time for local union presidents is rarely used and an absolute necessity to the law enforcement profession. Asking officers to perform life-threatening duties that demand split-second decisions and not allowing those officers, especially when involved in a critical incident, to seek guidance and/or representation from their local union leaders is an insult. In many cases, administration officials and local union leaders can resolve important issues on the spot, avoiding costly arbitrations. Permitting early involvement and engagement helps build employee morale and is a good business practice. Release time is collectively bargained at the negotiating table and is not forced on the employer.
DSAM and POAM are requesting that you be proactive and send a personal letter, e-mail or make a telephone call to your legislators and let them know that this is another strike against Michigan police officers. We encourage you to communicate your own feelings on the subject, but you can also highlight and copy the letter drafted below.
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