Bill > SB777

This bill modifies the Texas Local Government Code to establish new provisions for resolving impasses in collective bargaining for municipal firefighters, particularly focusing on two specific scenarios. First, for municipalities with existing charter provisions or collective bargaining agreements, the bill allows parties to use their own impasse resolution mechanisms when collective bargaining reaches a standstill. Second, for municipalities with populations between 950,000 and 1,050,000 (which appears to target a specific city like Dallas), the bill introduces a binding interest arbitration process. Under this new process, if negotiations reach an impasse, either the municipality or the firefighters' union can request arbitration, which will be conducted by a three-person arbitration board. The arbitration board must consider factors like previous collective bargaining history, compensation in comparable municipalities, cost of living changes, job-specific conditions, and the municipality's available revenues. The bill also clarifies that these new provisions do not invalidate existing agreements and will apply to ongoing and future collective bargaining negotiations. The legislation aims to provide more structured and predictable methods for resolving labor disputes between municipal governments and firefighter unions, with specific rules tailored to different municipal contexts.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB777