Police and firefighters join lawmakers in Grand Rapids rally against repealing binding arbitration
Published: Saturday, February 19, 2011, 9:24 PM
State Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, speaks to a crowd of more than 300 Saturday at a rally opposing the repeal of Public Act 312, which requires binding arbitration to resolve disputes between cities and unions.GRAND RAPIDS — More than 300 police officers, firefighters and other union supporters rallied on Calder Plaza Saturday to let lawmakers know how much they oppose a bill to end binding arbitration to resolve disputes between their unions and municipalities.
State Reps. Roy Schmidt and Brandon Dillon, both Grand Rapids Democrats, organized the event that also drew members from the Michigan Education Association and Grand Rapids Employees Independent Union.
Grand Rapids City Commissioners Dave Shaffer, Walt Gutowski, Ruth Kelly and Rosalynn Bliss were present as were Board of Education members Tony Baker and Jon O’Connor.
The rally was called to show support for the 1969 Public Act 312 which mandates bindin