Fire fighters and police officers risk their lives every day to
protect the public; they deserve the same right to discuss
workplace issues with their employer that the federal government
grants to most other workers.
The
Public Safety
Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, legislation
granting fire fighters and police officers minimum collective
bargaining rights, introduced as H.R. 980 by Representatives
Dale Kildee (D-MI) and John Duncan (R-TN), overwhelmingly passed
the House of Representatives in July. In the Senate,
the
Public Safety Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act was introduced by Senators
Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) as S. 2123. The bills
establish minimum standards for state collective bargaining
laws.
The Senate will consider the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
the week of May 12, 2008.
For more information
about collective bargaining rights and current congressional action,
click here: Fact
Sheet
Learn more about the
importance of collective bargaining rights for public safety
officers:
Key Points