On January 31, 2006, the Arizona Senate voted 28 - 2 in favor of SB1139, which amends the DPS Meet and Confer law. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for approval.

Summary of the bill:
In 2005, the Legislature established meet and confer procedures for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and its employees (Laws 2005, Chapter 84). Statute requires DPS to: a) allow its employees to form and join employee organizations; b) recognize an employee organization that is elected by a majority of DPS employees; c) agree to meet and confer with the elected employee organization regarding hours and terms and conditions; and d) commit any agreements to a written contract.

Under “meet and confer,” DPS employees must designate one organization they want to represent them with DPS executive staff. Whichever group is elected by a majority of DPS employees will be the representing organization. According to DPS, only two employee organizations have submitted a request to be placed on the ballot at this time; however, due to the requirement that a majority of DPS employees must elect the official employee organization, it is unlikely that one employee organization will garner enough votes to prevail.

Provisions:
Reduces the number of votes that an employee organization must receive to a majority of votes cast by DPS employees in a representation election of which a majority of eligible employees are participating from a majority of DPS employees to be recognized by DPS as the representing organization.

I was a member of the AHPA for 11 years. When I learned that the FOP had given financial assistance to officers displaced by the Rodeo fire (both FOPmembers and non-members) and the Association had refused financial aid, I joined the FOP.

I wonder where the Department and its employees would be now if the FOP had been representing us with Meet and Confer for the last 20 years?