City employees unionize lawsuit consolidated

(AP) _ Lawsuits by two cities that challenge the constitutionality of a law allowing some municipal employees to unionize have been consolidated. <br/><br/>Challenges to the Municipal Employee Collective

Wednesday, December 1st 2004, 6:22 am

By: News On 6

(AP) _ Lawsuits by two cities that challenge the constitutionality of a law allowing some municipal employees to unionize have been consolidated.

Challenges to the Municipal Employee Collective Bargaining Act by Lawton and Enid were combined on Monday.

The bargaining act allows general employees to select collective bargaining units to represent them in contract negotiations.

Employees have argued that the law will give them equal footing with police officers and firefighters, who they believe have better salaries and benefits because of their collective bargaining units.

But city officials believe the law's terms are vague and are unfairly applied.

The legislation affects cities with populations of 35-thousand or greater and excludes county and state employees.

A hearing on the constitutionality issue is set for January seventh.