On February 8, 2011, Representative Joseph Haveman (R- Holland) introduced House Bill 4205 which would repeal Public Act 312, providing for compulsory arbitration of labor disputes in municipal police and fire departments. POAM’s Legislative Director Kenneth E. Grabowski and our Lobbyist Tim Ward from Michigan Legislative Consultants have already contacted a number of legislators and are conducting an educational program to inform House Members on the ramifications of repealing P.A. 312 and the positive track record that this 40 year legislation has had on labor relations and public safety in Michigan. POAM will continue to advocate for improvements in the legislation to streamline its process and help employers minimize a majority of their legal expenses in the process.
Protecting the Protectors
4 Comments on "312 Under Attack"
Saturday February 19th.
Is this your updated notice to your membership and direction of your Unions involvement, with regards to HB 4205, which will repeal PA 312?
Jason Facione
Livonia FireFighters Local 1164
Secretary
Thank you POAM for working hard on this issue. P.A. 312 is helping me out as I write this (Arbitration Hearing next month). Grand Traverse County Administrator, Human Resources Director and EACH of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners have TERMINATED all my health insurance, optical, dental and life insurance for me AND my family since last year on June 30th, 2010. Why?….all because I got hurt at work with severe and permanent life changing injuries and I dared to file a Workman’s Compensation claim.
I sent an e-mail to Michigan State Representative Wayne Schmidt and Michigan State Senator Howard Walker regarding this ridiculous House Bill 4205. It certainly makes me scratch my head why they would do this. This day and age, I’m all for saving money where you can….repealing P.A. 312 is not the answer.
There would certainly be a negative ripple-effect if this happens.
Please see more stories about Officers being injured on the job on my website (www.jailsergeant.com).
I’m a proud member of POAM….Thanks again!
Sergeant Kevin Sandvig
Grand Traverse County
act 312 is a very important part to all police and fire workers for the main item is that we are subject to the hazzards of police work and fire work unlike any other line of work.
police and firemen are subject to a hazzard the moment they put on a uniform and most say “all they do is sit and ride around” but we all know that once the funk hits the fan we cannot run the other way, we must confront the danger head on so act 312 is very very vital for us to keep to insure we can negotiate without getting shut down before we are heard.
i don’t know what mr. holland has to gain by attacking police and fire unions but if his house was on fire he would think different and is a drunk driver was wild in his subdivision he would call for the police to stop that person so mr. holland should be same foe introducing such a bill against the most important people in our society.
It has become increasingly clear that government and the media believe all the economic problems that face local communities and the state as a whole was the result of unions negotiating in good faith with their employers.
Our leaders are ignoring the fact that we have made concessions on health care, wages and retirements. They are ignoring the fact that binding arbitration works for both labor and management. A POAM study showed when an employer presents a well researched and compelling argument the arbitrator is more likely to find on the side of management.
Public Act 312 prevents either side from being unreasonable in their contract demands. Both union and management realize it is better to negotiate a settlement they can live with than arbitrate the issue. However in cases where issues can’t be negotiated Act 312 is an alternative structured process for obtaining resolution. Labor agreement aren’t just about economics, there are language considerations which speak to an employees working environment.
Lawmakers have tried for years to repeal Act 312 even when the economy of the country and state were good. Their motives are not economic but political. They are taking advantage of a bad economic situation to break unions and make us into a right to work state with all the abuses that entails.