State Senate Approves Bill Ending Collective Bargaining

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate has given final legislative approval to a bill eliminating collective bargaining rights for city workers in the state's largest municipalities.

The Senate voted 29-19 Monday for the bill and sent it to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin over the objection of members who argued it takes away the voice of municipal workers.

Under current law, cities with more than 35,000 residents are required to collectively bargain with their employees. The bill only applies to non-uniformed personnel -- not to teachers or police and firefighters.

Sen. Cliff Aldridge wrote the bill and says he thinks it's unfair to force cities to participate in collective bargaining. He says cities still will have option to choose to collectively bargain.