The Texarkana, Ark., firefighters' union supports its Texas-side counterpart's effort to win collective bargaining rights, but whether it will ever seek them for itself remains an open question.
In an interview Wednesday, Jeff Pritchett-a Texarkana, Ark., Fire Department captain and president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 502-said collective bargaining is good for firefighters and the Arkansas-side union chapter hopes Texas-side residents will vote to allow it.
"My loyalties first of all are to firefighters. As a union representative for 15 years, from my perspective, collective bargaining is a great thing. We're supportive," he said, adding that the situation on the Texas side makes open communication between the city and firefighters difficult.
"You need to have responsible leaders on both sides of the table. Communication is critical, and right now, they don't really have an open door," he said.
Though both Texarkanas' firefighters have well-established union chapters, neither can represent firefighters in any negotiations, a situation Texas-side firefighters and their supporters are trying to change in accordance with state law.
The legal process to allow Texas-side firefighters to choose representation began this spring. By state law, city residents must decide whether firefighters or police officers can engage in collective bargaining. In May, Texarkana, Texas, City Secretary Jennifer Evans received a petition with enough valid signatures to put the issue on the ballot in November's general election.
As a result, voters will choose on Election Day whether the Texas-side union chapter, IAFF Local 367, can represent firefighters in employment talks with the city.
Pritchett was tentative about whether the Arkansas-side union will actively campaign for the ballot measure, but he said some amount of support is probable.
"It would have to be brought before our membership. Most likely, we'll be supportive to some degree. What level, I'm not sure at this point," he said.
As to how Arkansas-side firefighters will react to the election's result, including possibly pursuing their own collective-bargaining rights, Pritchett did not speculate.
"We have great communication with the city manager and our interim fire chief. I don't really know what we're going to do going forward. We're taking a wait-and-see approach. We'll see what happens on the Texas side and evaluate after that what, if anything, to do," he said.
Union representation for Texarkana, Ark., firefighters would be a rarity in the state. Little Rock is the only Arkansas city that engages in collective bargaining with firefighters, Pritchett said.
Jennifer Godwin, city of Little Rock communications and marketing manager, explained.
"The city (Little Rock) voluntarily enters into collective bargaining with three unions (including IAFF) and reduces those negotiations into a collective-bargaining agreement. Many years ago, the then-city manager thought the city should negotiate with unions based upon issues in Memphis. There is no public sector bargaining law in Arkansas," she said in an email.
Pritchett said labor organizations, especially for public sector workers, are unusual in the region.
"Firefighters' unions are not too common in the South. It's old school. Up north, unions are older, more established. They have more participation. It's part of the culture," he said.
The Arkansas-side firefighters' union chapter has 38 members, almost 70 percent of TAFD, Pritchett said.