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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. |
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House passes bill putting essential state law enforcement officials
on equal ground
HARRISBURG, April 7 – The state House today passed legislation (H.B. 1761) introduced by House Labor Relations Committee Chairman Robert E. Belfanti Jr. that would provide a limited form of binding arbitration to resolve collective bargaining impasses involving state probation and parole officers, Liquor Control Board enforcement agents and state narcotics investigators.
"State law recognizes the importance of collective bargaining and the right to strike for both private and public employees," Belfanti said. "However, it also recognizes the importance of maintaining public safety, and that public safety can be compromised if certain state employees are permitted to walk off the job.
"Prison guards, guards at mental health facilities, court employees and state police who are considered ‘essential’ under state law already have their labor disputes resolved through binding arbitration," he said. "This bill would add 400 probation officers and parole agents, 140 liquor enforcement agents and 120 attorney general narcotics agents to that list.
"In exchange for this benefit, these officers would give up their right to strike and would be considered ‘essential’ law enforcement officials, as well."
Belfanti said the state employees covered by the bill would still have the right to form homogenous collective bargaining units -- bargaining units that contain only employees with similar duties.
Belfanti’s legislation is strongly supported by the state Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement agencies. The bill passed the House 197-4.
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