Strike-only option and 911 workers

Thank you for covering the labor dispute at Northwest Central Dispatch. The story touches on what could become a disasterous problem for the public safety of Illinois: Dispatchers do not have impasse resolution rights in this state.

When police and firefighters reach an impasse in contract negotiations, they are prohibited from striking. Because of this, the law guarantees them an impartial arbitrator to settle contract disputes.

Unfortunately, 911 dispatchers are not afforded that same guarantee. When an emergency dispatch bargaining unit reaches an impasse with management, their only lawful response is to strike.

A 911 strike would obviously compromise the safety of possibly hundreds of thousands of people, but for Illinois dispatchers, a strike is the only option given by the current law. I encourage Daily Herald readers to write and call their state representatives to demand that they change the law to grant 911 dispatchers impasse resolution rights, and deny them the right to strike.

Tyler Benjamin

West Chicago