Oklahoma County judge orders hearing on law's constitutionality

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A state judge blocked enforcement Monday of a state law that authorizes non-uniformed municipal workers to enter into collective bargaining agreements.<br/><br/>An Oklahoma County judge

Tuesday, November 23rd 2004, 5:54 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- A state judge blocked enforcement Monday of a state law that authorizes non-uniformed municipal workers to enter into collective bargaining agreements.

An Oklahoma County judge also scheduled a January hearing to determine if the law is constitutional. The law was passed by the Legislature this year and went into effect November 1st.

Enid officials claim the law is unconstitutional because it applies only to cities with populations of 35,000 or more.

The ruling blocks a union's plan to have Enid's non-uniformed municipal workers considered for certification on Wednesday.

The new law affects 12 cities. Four of them -- Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Muskogee -- have already entered into agreements with municipal employees.