1	Meet and Confer Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association June 24, 2007 Discussion of State Legislation
2	Outline of Presentation What is Meet and Confer? General Provisions Petitions Advantages Resources
3	What is ‘Meet and Confer?’ Meet and Confer is an opportunity for cities and certain employees to contract the setting of salaries and other conditions of employment, including state civil service regulations
4	General Provisions Texas Legislature passed Meet and Confer bill for Austin-Travis County EMS during the 2007 Legislative session
5	General Provisions … City and Association may negotiate salaries, benefits, hours and conditions of work, labor disputes, and grievances Legislation does NOT REQUIRE City or Associations to meet and confer or to reach agreement on any issue Acts maintain state law prohibition against strikes
6	General Provisions … Meet and Confer agreements must be in writing Grievance procedures may be established to resolve disputes, including binding arbitration
7	General Provisions … Meet and Confer agreements pre-empt other conflicting laws, including state statutes, local ordinances, executive orders, legislation or rules adopted by a City, and Civil Service provisions
8	General Provisions … Agreements must be: Ratified by City Council by majority vote Ratified by a majority of the Association members covered by agreement
9	Petitions Austin-Travis County EMS employees will be submitting petitions signed by a majority of the employees covered by meet and confer
10	Petitions… When submitted, the Association seeks: Recognition of Meet and Confer process by majority vote of City Council Recognition of the Association as sole and exclusive bargaining agent for eligible EMS personnel. All employees are eligible other than Director, Deputy Director and Asst. Directors)
11	Petitions… Deadline for the submission of the petition has been tentatively set for September 15, 2007
12	Advantages to City City & Association may negotiate new terms for hiring and promotions, which might help minority recruiting and promotions in the EMS Department City and Association may negotiate new terms for discipline and appeals to streamline process
13	Meet & Confer in other Cities Other Cities: Austin has had Meet & Confer since 1995 Abilene: Police and Fire Associations recognized by Council Arlington: Police Association recognized by Council Austin Public Safety: Recognized by Legislature Balch Springs: Police Association recognized by Council Cedar Park: Police Association recognized by Council Del Rio: Police Association recognized by Council Denton: Police & Fire Associations recognized by Council Forest Hill: Police Association recognized by Council Fort Worth: Police recognized through election San Marcos: Police Association recognized by Council San Angelo: Police Association recognized by Council
14	Discussion QUESTIONS? Contact your Association Board Member Employee involvement is vital to success