IFPTE Endorses and Urges Support for the Public Sector Freedom to Negotiate Act

IFPTE joined the larger labor movement this week in urging Congressional lawmakers to cosponsor The Public Sector Freedom to Negotiate Act, which will soon be formally introduced on the Senate by Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, and the House by Pennsylvania Congressman Matt Cartwright.

In endorsing the legislation, IFPTE sent a letter to the Senator and Congressman, applauding them for their, “leadership in reintroducing this legislation, which responds to the 5-4 Supreme Court Janus vs. AFSCME Council 31 ruling preventing public sector unions to collect representational fees from all represented members in a collective bargaining unit.”

The legislation grants the Federal Labor Relations Authority to the power to protect basic union right for employees of state and local governments. In particular, the legislation includes the following provisions:

• Allows for union dues deduction for members of a collective bargaining unit;

• Outlaws the ‘free rider’ Janus decision allowing workers in a collective bargaining unit to enjoy the benefits negotiated by the union without paying union dues;

• Gives workers the right to organize and join unions in public sector workplaces, and collectively bargain over wages, benefits and working conditions;

• Ensures employer recognition of the union following a vote in favor of union representation by members of a collective bargaining unit;

• Establishes an impartial process for resolving impasses between the union and the employer;

• Provides for payroll deduction for union dues;

• Prevents mandated or employer-forced recertification union elections.

Read IFPTE’s letter endorsing the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act here.