KRS 345.020: Policy and purpose.

(1) Whereas, the denial by some public employers of the right of firefighters to

organize and the refusal by such employers to accept the procedure of collective

bargaining leads to various forms of strife and unrest, with the consequent effect of

obstructing public business. Unresolved disputes in the public service are injurious

to the public, the governmental agencies involved, and the firefighters.

(2) Whereas, experience has proved that protection by law of the right of public

employees to organize and bargain collectively safeguards the public business from

injury, impairment, or interruptions, and promotes public business by removing

certain recognized sources of strife and unrest, by encouraging practices

fundamental to the friendly adjustment of dispute s arising out of differences as to

wages, hours, or other working conditions, and by creating equality of bargaining

power between employers and employees.

(3) Whereas, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State of Kentucky to eliminate

the causes of certain substantial obstructions to public business and to mitigate and

eliminate these obstructions when they have occurred by encouraging the practice

and procedure of collective bargaining and by protecting the exercise by firefighters

of full freedom of association, self -organization, and designation of representatives

of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of

their employment or other mutual aid or protection.