McAllen reaches election settlement

McALLEN - Voters are set to finally vote on a labor union dispute originally slated for a 2007 election.

A ballot to decide if local union members working for the city can use binding arbitration in labor negotiations is set for November 2009. Binding arbitration allows two parties to appear before an independent panel, outside of the court system, for a ruling.

The McAllen City Commission passed an ordinance in 2007 to place a question on the May ballot that asked to disallow city unions from using binding arbitration. The McAllen Police Officers Union placed a question on the same ballot that, if passed, would have allowed the practice.

Currently, the only union members working for the city are police and fire.

The police union filed a lawsuit shortly after the ordinance passed calling the ballot language for the union's question "biased," saying the legal practice was negatively portrayed. The McAllen Fire Fighters Association later joined the lawsuit.

In July, all parties agreed to language for both questions. November 2009 is the earliest city election allowed by law.

The union's attorney, Bobby Garcia, said he was wary to comment because he didn't want to compromise terms of the agreement.

"I think we did the best that we could and I think we are happy just to get the issue before the public," he said.

The Monitor is waiting to receive official copies of both the old and new ballot languages.

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Jackie Leatherman covers Hidalgo County government and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4424.