Firefighters in Charlottesville could be among the first to unionize under a new state law that permits collective bargaining by public employees.
Greg Wright heads the Charlottesville Professional Firefighters Association, and he was not surprised when state lawmakers voted to allow unions to represent city employees.
“From a state level perspective, this was our top legislative priority for years,” he explains.
So in March he wrote to the city council, asking members to approve collective bargaining at the local level. At the very least, Wright says, that would help this communities attract the best firefighters.
“The market for public safety officials across the commonwealth is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Wright says. “Highly intelligent, highly motivated candidates can go just about anywhere, and obviously at the end of the day working conditions, salary, benefits all factor into those decisions. They would know that they had an equitable seat at the table when it did come time to work through a contract.”
He says 80% of city EMT’s, paramedics and firemen already pay dues to the association, and he stressed that under the new law, public employees won’t be allowed to strike.
“There will never be a point in time where police or firefighters are walking off the job over contract issues, and you’re not employable in the commonwealth at any other public safety entity if you were to make that unfortunate decision.”
City government has not yet responded to Wright’s request, but knowing that members of council have supported a living wage, he’s hopeful they will approve an ordinance that will make collective bargaining possible.
