Howard County voters overwhelmingly backed giving police and fire unions a system of arbitration to settle contract issues, which union officials said would give them more leverage in disputes.
“We are pleased with the results,” said Dan Besseck, of the Howard County Police Officers? Association. “We were hoping it would pass with a wide margin.”
The measure passed with 79.81 percent of the vote based on 97.2 percent of precincts reporting, according to the State Board of Elections? unofficial results.
Besseck said the union will work with the new County Council to implement the legislation allowing binding arbitration.
“We hope to do that as soon as they are sworn in,” he said.
If the council adopts the legislation, an arbitrator would review both sides of a contract dispute and make a decision, which would be binding to the county executive, but the council would have the final say.
Besseck said binding arbitration will bring a quicker resolution to negotiations.
“It sets up a fair system,” he said.
The firefighters? union was looking forward to working with the council because most of the new council members had indicated they supported legislation for binding arbitration, said Richard Ruehl, president of the Howard County Professional Fire Fighters Association.
The county?s police and fire departments did not take a position on the measure before the vote.
“I am sure whatever the negotiation process is, the county and the department will hold up their end and make what they consider the best offer,” Fire Department spokesman Bill Mould said.
Part of the Baltimore Examiner’s 2006 election coverage
