Enid Voters Approve Collective Bargaining

ENID, Okla. (AP) – Voters in Enid have approved a proposition allowing municipal workers to collectively bargain with the city.

According to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election, about 54 percent of voters approved amending the city charter to allow collective bargaining.

The Enid News & Eagle reports employees will be able to join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and negotiate as a unit. Workers won’t have the ability to strike or slowdown, but if the city and AFSCME can’t agree to terms, contract negotiations will go into mediation or arbitration.

City employees previously had the right to bargain collectively under a 2004 law requiring cities with more than 35,000 residents to collectively bargain with workers.

That changed in 2011 when Gov. Mary Fallin signed legislation repealing the requirement.