On Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted against a bill that would eliminate binding arbitration for police and fire departments. The state has had binding arbitration for impasses between city government and police and fire fighters since 1994. Opponents of the bill say that the bill is an attack on unions, and that arbitration has been working well. The author of the bill said that collective bargaining worked without binding arbitration, and that cities are at a disadvantage. Decisions are made by a panel of three arbitrators, who choose between the final offers of the two parties.
See "Oklahoma House rejects anti-union bill", Michael McNutt, The Oklahoman, March 16, 2011