AHPA falsely takes credit for Meet and Confer legislation.
In the interests of keeping DPS employees accurately informed, the Fraternal Order of Police DPS Labor Council has created this Myth vs. Fact web page. Why? Because, occasionally, competing labor organizations foster wildly inaccurate myths, which we feel should be corrected by a complete examination of the facts.
Myth:
The AHPA obtained Meet and Confer for DPS employees.
A series of misleading articles in The AHPA Informant, simply proves the old law enforcement adage -- NEVER BELIEVE EVERYTHING AN INFORMANT TELLS YOU!!!
Fact:
The Fraternal Order of Police took the primary lead in obtaining the DPS Meet and Confer statute.
After the F.O.P. took the lead and got the bill heard by Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee, other organizations and entities jumped on board to support the DPS Meet and Confer bill.
Check out the facts....
The AHPA Informant published the following AHPA leadership statements concerning SB1042, the DPS Meet and Confer law:
Claim:
"This bill, which was led through the legislative process by AHPA and APA lobbyists and association leaders..., ...establishes a process by which all DPS employees can 'Meet and Confer'."
The AHPA Informant - Issue 007
Facts:
The DPS Meet and Confer bill was brought to the legislature by the FOP. The FOP's primary legislative agenda included the DPS Meet and Confer legislation. The FOP prepared the draft of the bill and arranged legislative sponsorship. The FOP lobbied the legislature for the bill's support through every step of the the process.
Senate Bill 1042, the FOP's DPS Meet and Confer bill was first heard by the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee on January 19, 2005. The FOP representatives introduced the bill to the committee. Three FOP representatives appeared in front of the committee, in open session, to speak in favor of the bill. Read the Committee Minutes.
As the committee minutes show;
Bill Whalen, acting as the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police Legislative Liaison was the first to speak in support of SB1042.
Appropriately, Bill Everson, Chairman of the FOP Arizona Labor Council also spoke asking the legislators to support SB1042.
The last person to appear and speak in favor of the DPS Meet and Confer bill was Don Isaacson, our FOP Lobbyist.
Jack Lane, representing the Arizona Department of Public Safety, testified as having a neutral position on SB1042.
No other employee organization appeared to speak in favor of the bill at the bill’s inaugural hearing. In fact, the Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona (AHPA) and the Arizona Police Association (APA) representatives asked legislators not to hear the bill.
Claim:
"Thanks to our (AHPA) teamwork, 'meet and Confer' goes into effect after the end of the legislative session."
The AHPA Informant - Issue 007
Facts:
The Fraternal Order of Police did ask the AHPA leadership to consider supporting the FOP's Meet and Confer bill.
The initial APA unwillingness to work with the FOP in no way diminished our legislative success. As most active FOP members are aware, the 2005 legislative session was a great success for the FOP. Every item on our 2005 FOP legislative agenda became law.
Regardless of the rivalry issues, the FOP continued to provide support and lobby for APA run bills --- Simply put, many of the APA bills were of benefit to our members and the law enforcement community as a whole.
FOP members sent 5,060 e-mail messages to individual legislators specifically asking them to support SB1042.
Certainly, the large number of FOP members sending e-mail to lawmakers, asking support for SB 1042, is unmatched by any other Arizona law enforcement employee organization.
As in past sessions, the FOP provides members the opportunity to easily and effectively communicate with our lawmakers.
During the legislative session, almost 40,000 FOP e-mail messages were sent to the legislature through the www.azfop.com web site by members in support of, or in opposition to, bills concerning FOP members.
Claim:
"AHPA has had much success over the years securing better pay, benefits and working conditions for all employees at DPS even as we fought for the right to "meet and confer'."
...The AHPA Informant - Issue 007
Facts:
The majority of the support placed in front of the legislature, in the form of "request to speak" appearances and supportive e-mail, came from FOP representatives.
Other entities and organizations supported SB1042, the DPS Meet and Confer bill, which is why it would be inappropriate for the F.O.P. or any other organization to create the impression of being solely responsible for the bill's success.
Claim:
"(AHPA) Secured the most comprehensive employee reform package in DPS history with the enactment of 'Meet & Confer' legislation."
...The AHPA Informant - Issue 008
Facts:
The FOP continued our primary role of leading the bill through the legislative process Read House Minutes
Even the parent organization of the AHPA, the APA, acknowledged that the DPS Meet and Confer bill was an F.O.P. bill.
(SB1042) Officer Organization; DPS – This bill was run by the F.O.P. and followed the draft, with a couple of APA revisions, of last year’s similar bill. The bill authorizes a “meet and discuss” agreement within DPS.
...Arizona Police Association
2005 Legislative Review
