NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk City Council denied the police union's request for collective bargaining for city employees, the city announced Friday.
In a 5-3 vote Tuesday, council members voted to adopt Ordinance No. 49415, rejecting the Southern States Police Benevolent Association's push for collective bargaining, a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements on workers' compensation and rights.
The adopted ordinance will instead reinforce the previously established Employee Relations Committee (ERC) process.
"The emphasis on strengthening employee relations includes actively encouraging employee engagement and fostering a culture of active participation to include the ability to have union or professional association membership dues automatically deducted from their paychecks, if so desired," according to a release from the city.
The ordinance includes developing committees to represent fire, police, operations department employees like Public Works and Utilities, and general city employees.
In addition to the annual operating and capital budget the City Manager is already required to provide City Council, they will also be required to outline findings and recommendations of ERC meetings in a report annually.
The city claimed it rejected the union's bid for collective bargaining because of financial strain on government resources, constraints on operational adjustments, limiting the flexibility of responses to critical needs and an increased tax burden.
City officials added that council's vote reflects the notion that "the City’s workforce are best served by local decision makers and not by external arbitration."
Tuesday's decision comes just weeks after Portsmouth City Council members authorized collective bargaining for its city employees. The 4-2 vote made Portsmouth the first city in Hampton Roads to allow collective bargaining.
Virginia Beach is expected to hold a vote on the issue later this month.
