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Committee introduces RS 32450 to narrow firefighters' collective bargaining to wages and rates of pay; some members raise stakeholder concerns
Summary
Representative Rob Bieswanger introduced RS 32450 to limit firefighters' collective bargaining to wages and rates of pay and to remove working conditions from negotiable subjects; the request was introduced to print after debate and at least one member voiced opposition to moving forward without firefighter input.
The House State Affairs Committee voted to introduce RS 32450, a request that would narrow the subjects covered by firefighters’ collective bargaining agreements to wages and rates of pay and remove working conditions and other terms from negotiable items.
Representative Rob Bieswanger (District 8) told the committee under current law firefighters can negotiate "pretty much anything" in a contract. He said the RS would limit negotiations to wages and hours (rates of pay) so elected officials and fire chiefs retain authority over staffing, assignments and other operational decisions.
"This will ... make it a little more flexible," Bieswanger said, arguing that some decisions should be made by local elected officials and fire department leaders rather than through lengthy negotiations.
Other committee members pressed for stakeholder engagement. Representative Keeley said the state’s collective bargaining statute has been in place for 55 years and voiced concern that the RS would remove firefighters’ ability to negotiate on minimum staffing, SOPs, disciplinary processes and schedules. Keeley argued firefighters’ expertise belongs in those negotiations and said the RS should not move forward to print without firefighter involvement.
Representative Scott made a motion to introduce RS 32,450 with specific wording changes (adding "and" after "wages" and striking the words "working conditions"). After discussion the committee voice-voted the motion carried; the transcript records one voice "nay" during the vote but does not identify the member by name.
The RS, as introduced, is a draft request to print; if advanced it would be drafted into bill language and scheduled for public hearing, where stakeholders including firefighters, local governments and labor representatives could testify.
