Texas Local Wins Collective Bargaining in May Election

March 18, 2009 – With support from IAFF 11th District Vice President Sandy McGhee, the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters (TSAFF) and neighboring affiliate Corpus Christi Local 936, Alice, TX Local 4102 have won its right to collective bargain with their employer.

By a vote of 1,051 to 1,010, voters adopted Texas State Statue 174, which gives fire fighters and police officers the right to organize and negotiate for better working conditions, benefits and wages. The votes were officially ratified by the City of Alice on May 14.

“It is a union-wide goal for all of our members to have the right to bargain collectively,” says McGhee. “Our fire fighters in Alice just brought us one step closer to achieving that goal.”

“The Alice fire fighters are very proud of this victory,” says Pat Canales, president of Local 4102. “We were faced with opposition throughout this process, but we triumphed in the end. It was well worth it.”

To put Texas State Statute 174 up for a vote, Alice fire fighters were required to gather at least 300 signatures – 5 percent of registered voters in the last municipal elections. Ensuring inclusion on the May ballot, Local 4102 members obtained more than 500.

The opposition tried to get the ballot initiative voted down by spreading inaccuracies such as collective bargaining would increase taxes. However, Local 4102 members were diligent in getting their message to the voters, educating them on what collective bargaining is and that it would not, in fact, increase taxes.

Local 4102 will soon officially notify the city of Alice that it is ready to negotiate its first contract. The city has until the beginning of the next fiscal year (October 2009) to comply.