The leaders of two unions in Montgomery County will stand with the Fraternal Order of Police and oppose a ballot question for removing police effects bargaining, according to a communications firm hired by the FOP.

Voters will be asked to affirm the Montgomery County legislation in the Nov. 6 balloting. A “no” vote would repeal the law, which removed the FOP’s right to bargain the “effects” of management decisions. The law does not change the ability for the FOP to bargain wages, benefits and working conditions. Of public employee unions in Montgomery County, only the FOP has effects bargaining, which can involve transfers and new equipment.

Gino Renne, president of United Food and Commercial Workers/Municipal and County Government Employees Organization Local 1994, and Joslyn Williams, president of Metropolitan Washington Council of AFL-CIO, will join Torrie Cook, president of FOP Lodge 35, and state Sen. Roger Manno (D-Dist. 19) of Silver Spring at a press conference Wednesday to announce their opposition to Question B.

The FOP collected nearly 40,000 signatures, which were upheld by Maryland’s highest court this summer, to have the law put on the November general election ballot for voters to decide its fate.

Both the county’s Democratic and Republican central committees support Question B.

kalexander@gazette.net