Counties take collective bargaining battle to D.C.

Also see:
• Collective bargaining for public employees (PDF)
• Congressional Breakfast Registration form (PDF)

The push to repeal North Carolina's prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees is coming not just at the state level, but also at the federal level. For that reason, opposing federal preemption of state law regulating collective bargaining will be the primary federal issue for the NCACC as county officials prepare to convene in Washington, D.C., March 6-10 for the National Association of Counties' 2010 Legislative Conference.

In mid-December, the Association learned of an attempt to amend the U.S. Defense Appropriations Conference Report to include language that would preempt North Carolina's ban on collective bargaining rights for state and local public employees that was enacted in 1959. The language was not included in the bill – thanks in part to the phone calls made to North Carolina Congressional delegates from county officials – but the threat remains: S1611 and HR413 would provide collective bargaining rights for all public safety officers.

The NCACC Board of Directors approved four Congressional issues during its Feb. 3 meeting. Other issues are:

• Support remote sales tax collection;
• Overturn or continue to delay a CMS rule change redefining public hospitals; and
• Increase federal funding for county infrastructure needs.

For more information on these issues, visit www.ncacc.org/federalissues.html. Conference registrants will receive in the mail a brochure with information on these Congressional issues.

The NCACC has scheduled three events specifically for N.C. attendees. The N.C. Caucus will be held on March 8 from 4 – 5:45 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a reception until 7 p.m. Both events will be held at the host hotel, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

On March 10, the NCACC will sponsor a Congressional breakfast from 8 – 9:30 a.m. at the Capitol Hill Club. All 13 U.S. representatives from North Carolina, as well as Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, have been invited to attend and speak. Most are expected to attend.

For more information on the conference, visit www.naco.org.