Collective Bargaining Rights For Public Employees Survive

The Wyoming House of Representatives defeated an attempt to remove collective bargaining rights from firefighters and other public employees. 

Evansville Republican Kendall Kroker said that it was unfair that not all employees had the same benefits,and was the primary reason for his bill. However, Green River Democrat Stan Blake strongly objected to the move.

“I think it’s a bill in search of a problem,” said Blake. “I haven’t heard of any problems in collective bargaining.  First of all, Wyoming is a right to work state, if you don’t want to be in a union you don’t have to be in a union.  You don’t have to pay union dues.”

Laramie Republican Glen Moniz also objected to the bill.  As a former firefighter, Moniz said that he has been on both sides of collective bargaining and he said that the process works well.  The bill fell well short of the necessary votes needed to gain introduction.