Authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold public hearings to examine the potential impact of the upcoming deployment of Pennsylvania National Guard troops on the City of Philadelphia's workforce.

WHEREAS, Next summer, nearly 4,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members are expected to be deployed to Iraq; and

WHEREAS, These soldiers are members of the 56th Stryker Brigade, which is headquartered in Northeast Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, As of September 6, 2007, 364 city employees were on leave from their city job for military service; and

WHEREAS, There are 222 Police officers that are members of the National Guard. Of those 222 officers, 20 are currently on leave from the Police Department for military service; and

WHEREAS, Under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), any employee who is called for military service may leave their civilian position with reemployment security; and

WHEREAS, Under this Act, the employee also receives a stipend of $500 per month while they are on military leave; and

WHEREAS, It is important to examine the potential impact of this deployment on the City's departments and agencies and identify any reorganization or part-time hiring necessary to avoid low staffing levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council's Committee on the Labor and Civil Service is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to examine the potential impact of the upcoming deployment of Pennsylvania National Guard troops on the City of Philadelphia's workforce.

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