Calling upon the Mayor to establish an Office of Military Liaison to monitor and protect the legal rights of City Employees who are called up for active duty in the National Guard and the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States.

WHEREAS, Hundreds of employees of the City of Philadelphia serve our country as members of the National Guard and the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Such service is deeply appreciated by all the citizens of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Employees of the City of Philadelphia have been called to active duty as a result of the events of September 11, 2001, and military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; and

WHEREAS, These employees, after having served with fidelity and distinction, have completed their military assignments and have returned to employment with the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Congress has enacted the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Title 38 United States Code Chapter 43, to guarantee job rights for reservists who return from active duty; and

WHEREAS, USERRA requires that returning reservists be restored to the pay grade, promotions and seniority they would have earned had they not been called to active duty; and

WHEREAS, This Council has learned that City employees returning from active duty have reported that they have not received their full rights under USERRA; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Mayor is called upon to establish an Office of Military Liaison to counsel City employees returning from active duty of their rights and monitor the City's compliance with USERRA and other laws relating to returning service members, reservists and veterans.

End