Residents, unions and public-safety officials urge Salisbury council to abandon plan to dissolve collective bargaining

Dozens of residents, union leaders and first responders told the Salisbury City Council on Monday that a proposed charter amendment to eliminate collective bargaining and binding arbitration would damage recruitment and retention and increase public-safety risks.

Speakers who identified themselves as the State's Attorney, union presidents and career firefighters said dissolving the contractual protections would accelerate departures and raise long-term liabilities, despite the administration's argument that removing bargaining is a short-term budget fix.

The issue drew the largest public turnout in the meeting. Supporters of the existing labor code said the city should negotiate or pursue other revenue options — annexation and more development were suggested repeatedly — rather than remove workers' negotiated rights.

"If compensation is not competitive, if officers lose their voice, and if confidence in their future continues to erode, the cost will not show up neatly on a spreadsheet," the speaker identifying herself as the State's Attorney said, warning that vacancies,…