YOU MUST COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MICHIGAN SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING HOUSE BILL 4059 IMMEDIATELY!
Republican Representative Marty Knollenberg has sponsored H.B. 4059 which would amend the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA) and prohibit public employer contracts that pay union officials for time conducting union business. H.B. 4059 bans the use of negotiated release time for union officers and outlaws any on-duty actions between local leaders and the administration, including contract negotiations and critical incidents.
This legislation saves local municipalities next to nothing. As you well know, release time for local union presidents is rarely used and an absolute necessity to the law enforcement profession. Asking officers to perform life-threatening duties that demand split-second decisions and not allowing those officers, especially when involved in a critical incident, to seek guidance and/or representation from their local union leaders is an insult. In many cases, administration officials and local union leaders can resolve important issues on the spot, avoiding costly arbitrations. Permitting early involvement and engagement helps build employee morale and is a good business practice. Release time is collectively bargained at the negotiating table and is not forced on the employer.
POAM is requesting that you be proactive and send a personal letter, e-mail or make a telephone call to your legislators and let them know that this is another strike against Michigan police officers. We encourage you to communicate your own feelings on the subject, but you can also highlight and copy the letter drafted below.
The vote has been pushed back a few days from the original Wednesday, December 7 date.  Please continue to contact them.
Call
- Call your local senator using the appropriate number listed below:
Senator District Area Phone Number Coleman Young 1 Detroit (517) 373-7346 Bert Johnson 2
Highland Park (517) 373-7748 Morris Hood 3
Detroit (517) 373-0990 Virgil Smith 4
Detroit (517) 373-7918 Tupac Hunter 5
Detroit (517) 373-0994 Glenn Anderson 6
Westland (517) 373-1707 Patrick Colbeck 7
Canton Twp. (517) 373-1020 Hoon-Yung Hopgood 8
Taylor (517) 373-7800 Steve Bieda 9
Warren (517) 373-8360 Tory Rocca 10
Sterling Heights (517) 373-7315 Jack Brandenburg 11
Harrison Twp. (517) 373-7670 Jim Marleau 12
Lake Orion (517) 373-2417 John Pappageorge 13
Troy (517) 373-2523 Vincent Gregory 14
Southfield (517) 373-7888 Mike Kowall 15
White Lake Twp. (517) 373-1758 Bruce Caswell 16
Hillsdale (517) 373-5932 Randy Richardville 17
Monroe (517) 373-3543 Rebekah Warren 18
Ann Arbor (517) 373-2406 Mike Nofs 19
Battle Creek (517) 373-2426 Tonya Schuitmaker 20
Lawton (517) 373-0793 John Proos 21
St. Joseph (517) 373-6960 Joe Hune 22
Hamburg (517) 373-2420 Gretchen Whitmer 23
East Lansing (517) 373-1734 Rick Jones 24
Grand Ledge (517) 373-3447 Phil Pavlov 25
St. Clair (517) 373-7708 David Robertson 26
Grand Blanc (517) 373-1636 John Gleason 27
Flushing (517) 373-0142 Mark Jansen 28
Gaines Twp. (517) 373-0797 Dave Hildenbrand 29
Lowell (517) 373-1801 Arlan Meekhof 30
West Olive (517) 373-6920 Mike Green 31
Mayville (517) 373-1777 Roger Kahn 32
Saginaw Twp. (517) 373-1760 Judy Emmons 33
Sheridan (517) 373-3760 Goeff Hansen 34
Hart (517) 373-1635 Darwin Booher 35
Evart (517) 373-1725 John Moolenaar 36
Midland (517) 373-7946 Howard Walker 37
Traverse City (517) 373-2413 Tom Casperson 38
Escanaba (517) 373-7840 - Refer to the e-mail message at the bottom of this post, and voice your concerns on H.B. 4059.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we can help!
- Click on the highlighted link below to send an email.
- We highly recommend you write your own letter, but if you would prefer you can send ours, located below. Click on the grey box that says “copy to clipboard” and paste (ctrl V) into your email.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we can help!
Click here to open your email client and send a letter to your Michigan Senate
Click here to open your email client and send a letter to your Michigan SenateClick here to open your email client and send a letter to your Michigan House of Representatives (Group 1)
Click here to open your email client and send a letter to your Michigan House of Representatives (Group 2)
You can also highlight and copy the letter
To All Michigan Senators and Representatives:
I am sending you this letter to communicate my objections to specific language included in H.B. 4059 and ask that you consider an amendment or exclusion in Section 10(f), which would not allow union members, even if mutually agreed upon with the employer, to conduct union business while on duty.
Michigan’s municipalities and county administrations know that police officers have the toughest job in their jurisdiction, one that demands split second, life or death decisions and sometimes deadly actions. To mandate that those officers, especially when involved in a critical incident, cannot seek guidance and/or representation from their local union leaders is insulting. In addition to being available in emergency situations, there are many times when other important issues requiring immediate response can be mutually addressed by employees and management, avoiding costly arbitrations.
I am asking that an exemption be made allowing the use of negotiated release time for union officers in any law enforcement agency that is a 24-hour operation. By not recognizing the unique circumstances and responsibilities that come with protecting the public, you will strike yet another blow against police officers, without saving a single penny.
I encourage all representatives and senators to consult with the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) and police administrators in your jurisdiction. You will find that negotiated release time benefits both the Union and the employer and any restrictions imposed by the State would be a hindrance. Show that you support your local police officers, chiefs, deputies and sheriff by allowing both parties to continue to negotiate our own provisions.
