Do police and firefighters have the right to strike in the US? Please only respond if you know for a fact...?

The Police can not strike, and most Fire Department can't either. It all depends what is in their contract. The Chicago Fire Department went on strike in 1980. They no longer can.

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1812187&la...

In CA, law enforcement and firemen are not allowed to strike. They are considered essential and if they were to leave their post, it would be illegal. There is also a no strike clause in the contract.

When no agreement is reached for a new contract, the officers still have to report to their post. In our experience, the negotiated contract is almost always retroactive.

Some jurisdictions prohibit all strikes by public employees (under such laws as the "Taylor Law" in New York). Other jurisdictions limit strikes only by certain categories of workers, particularly those regarded as critical to society: police and firefighters are among the groups commonly barred from striking in these jurisdictions. Some states, such as Michigan, Iowa or Florida, do not allow teachers in public schools to strike. Workers have sometimes circumvented these restrictions by falsely claiming inability to work due to illness — this is sometimes called a "sickout" or "blue flu." The term "red flu" has sometimes been used to describe this action when undertaken by firefighters.

It is also illegal for an employee of the United States Federal Government to strike. Prospective federal employees must sign standard form 61, an affidavit not to strike. President Ronald Reagan terminated air traffic controllers after their refusal to return to work from an illegal strike in 1981.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/strike/lingo.htm...

ETA: You're not going to find a website that generalizes this information. However, if you could get a copy of the various contracts, you'd be able to read it. You shouldn't have a problem finding a copy of the contracts since public/state jobs are involved.

The only state firefighters can strike in as of right now is Idaho. Look up labor laws state by state and you will find that most public servants can not strike in any state.

Firemen Strike

I can't give you the proof either, but TV Channel 5 (WEWS) in Cleveland, Ohio had a reference to that fact on the lunchtime news today. Because Ohio teachers are still allowed to strike, yet police and fire aren't. The legislature is thinking about changing the law to forbid teacher strikes as well.

I cant provide a site, but they are not allowed to strike. They make them sign a contract saying the will not strike when they first get the job.

I can't quote you the statutes, but as I am aware the few agencies left that have 'unions' are forbidden from striking, as it would endanger the safety and welfare of the community.

I've seen the number of agencies with unions diminish over the past 30 years I've been in the business.

Unions are dead. Especially those in public safety.

Thats a good question I hope you find some valuable answers