SB 673- FAIRNESS IN NEGOTIATIONS ACT

On Thursday March 5, 2009 new legislation was introduced by AFSCME MARYLAND Council 67 to Senate Finance Committee in attempt to gain fairness in the workplace. This bill would allow the union to provide representation for non-certified employees in bargaining agreements, transfers, assignments, discipline and discharge. The union would act as a neutral third party arbitrator to make fair and binding recommendations. This bill acts a resource tool for the non- certified employees and fights for rights of employees; it equalizes non-certified employees with other public sector employees. Most public employees generally lose positions because they are not knowledgeable of their rights and do not have proper representation in place to properly fight for their jobs. In places that have binding arbitration rights, invoking is done judiciously. Therefore, the most effective dispute resolution tool non- certified employees have at their disposal is the right to negotiations. The very last resort, to resolve negotiations is through binding arbitration.

AFSCME MARYLAND Council 67 would serve as neutral party who is agreed upon by both parties and paid for by both parties. The arbitrator would consider evidence regarding the ability of the local system and the country to fund the cost of the offers, and the arbitrator’s findings is subject to the fiscal relationships between the school system and the governing body. The sensitivity of this matter often encourages both parties to resolve their differences at the bargaining table without asking for mediation or binding arbitration.