Irving’s public service sector will soon see a change in its ability to collectively bargain.
Irving voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition A, a ballot measure that would either approve or deny firefighters’ ability to collectively bargain with the city. The measure passed 71% to 29%, election website Ballotpedia reports.
The text of Prop A read, “Adoption of the state law applicable to firefighters that establishes collective bargaining if a majority of the affected employees favor representation by an employees association, preserves the prohibition against strikes and lockouts, and provides penalties for strikes and lockouts.”
The state law in question is Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174, a 1992 law from the Gov. Ann Richards era that authorizes firefighters and police to collectively bargain.
Irving Fire Fighters Board President Brian Becker had previously told The Dallas Express that passing the measure would create “enhanced safety standards… [better] compensation and benefits… [and] improved working conditions” that would benefit both firefighters and the community.
The measure was not publicly opposed by the Irving Chamber of Commerce, although the city government appeared to imply its opposition to Prop A in a mailer that was sent to citizens before the November 5th vote. The mailer gave the impression that city staff did not think collective bargaining was necessary given the pay scale and achievements of the department, DX reported.
Unionization efforts have swept Texas in recent months and voters in other cities, such as Frisco, have defeated collective bargaining measures for their fire departments.
The passage of Prop A comes as Texans elected former President Donald Trump as their 47th president. Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. and Republican Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, previously endorsed collective bargaining for firefighters while speaking before the International Association of Firemen.
This was a historic departure for a candidate in the Republican Party, as many GOP candidates typically shy away from statements that could be perceived as supporting unionization. Vance nodded toward this in his speech.
“You may have noticed that Donald Trump is not exactly like Mitt Romney or some of the Republicans of the past,” Vance reportedly said. “He is a different kind of Republican. And under his leadership, the Republican Party is the party of the American worker.”