{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-345.020","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 345.020","heading":"Policy and purpose.","body":"(1) Whereas, the denial by some public employers of the right of firefighters to\norganize and the refusal by such employers to accept the procedure of collective\nbargaining leads to various forms of strife and unrest, with the consequent effect of\nobstructing public business. Unresolved disputes in the public service are injurious\nto the public, the governmental agencies involved, and the firefighters.\n(2) Whereas, experience has proved that protection by law of the right of public\nemployees to organize and bargain collectively safeguards the public business from\ninjury, impairment, or interruptions, and promotes public business by removing\ncertain recognized sources of strife and unrest, by encouraging practices\nfundamental to the friendly adjustment of dispute s arising out of differences as to\nwages, hours, or other working conditions, and by creating equality of bargaining\npower between employers and employees.\n(3) Whereas, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State of Kentucky to eliminate\nthe causes of certain substantial obstructions to public business and to mitigate and\neliminate these obstructions when they have occurred by encouraging the practice\nand procedure of collective bargaining and by protecting the exercise by firefighters\nof full freedom of association, self -organization, and designation of representatives\nof their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of\ntheir employment or other mutual aid or protection.","path":["KRS Chapter 345"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=32679","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:34Z","sha256":"5a17a3343598a473369d52a6def643db35c14d6fdb2226454f2d0a2c2049fc2b","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-345.010","next":"us-ky/krs-345.030"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}