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In the fine political tradition of saying one thing and then doing the other, Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds recently gave a master class on talking out of both sides of one's mouth. The would-be governor was in hot water with two organizations representing state public safety employees after he gave the groups differing answers about whether or not he supports collective bargaining for law enforcement personnel.
Deeds told the Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia - in writing - that he supports a bill pending before Congress that includes a so-called "meet and confer" provision that would allow public safety employees to send a representative to negotiate wages with local police and sheriff's departments during contract negotiations.
"I am a strong supporter of collective bargaining rights for public safety employees," he wrote in a questionnaire he returned to the group earlier this year. But Deeds now says a staff member filled out the questionnaire incorrectly and that he doesn't support meet and confer.
The senator told members of the Virginia Sheriffs' Association just recently that he does not in fact support collective bargaining according to Sheriff's Association executive director John Jones. The association members "didn't know what to think, to tell you the truth," Jones told reporters from the Washington Post. Deeds says he supports "meet and confer" but not collective bargaining because it would carry with it the right to strike.
"Public safety is too important a responsibility to allow for a potential disruption in service," one of the Deeds' campaign workers said. "He doesn't support collective bargaining that infers the right to strike." The FOP, which has endorsed Republicans for Virginia governor in the last two elections, favors collective bargaining.
The Virginia Sheriff's Association, which does not endorse candidates, opposes it. In addition, Virginia has a right-to-work law, which Deeds says he's in full support of. That law makes Virginia one the states where public safety employees aren't allowed to bargain collectively for wages and benefits. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites        
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