Local Government Code § 143.353

Sec. 143.353. GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO AGREEMENTS, RECOGNITION, AND STRIKES. (a) A municipality may not be denied local control over the wages, salaries, rates of pay, hours of work, and other terms of employment, or other state-mandated personnel issues, if the public employer and the bargaining agent come to a mutual agreement on any of the terms of employment. If an agreement is not reached, the state laws, local ordinances, and civil service rules remain unaffected. All agreements shall be written. Nothing in this subchapter requires either party to meet and confer on any issue or reach an agreement. (b) A public employer may only meet and confer if the bargaining agent does not advocate the illegal right to strike by public employees. (c) Police officers of a municipality may not engage in strikes or organized work stoppages against this state or a political subdivision of this state. A police officer who participates in a strike or work stoppage forfeits all civil service rights, reemployment rights, and any other rights, benefits, or privileges the police officer enjoys as a result of employment or prior employment. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1195, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1464, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.