Police and law enforcement are essential for safe and vibrant communities, but their jobs can often be very demanding. Many police and law enforcement belong to unions to ensure their rights as workers are protected and they are receiving adequate support for demanding jobs.  When contracts are up negotiations can be difficult and disputes can lead to strikes which can be difficult for both parties and most importantly the public.
 
Municipal Police Officers cannot strike rather they resolve their contract disputes using binding arbitration.  Some other police agencies bargaining under Act 195 who do not have the authorization to utilize binding arbitration. Instead, they have the option to go out on strike potentially causing a public safety issues and stress on neighboring or overlapping police agencies who must fill the gap left by the striking agencies.  Police officers should not be forced to choose to strike, rather they should use binding arbitration to settle these disputes fairly. My legislation would seek to provide an alternative to striking in dispute resolution under Act 195. 
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure all police and law enforcement have access to binding arbitration.