IAFF LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

The IAFF strongly supports the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act and encourages Members of Congress to cosponsor the bill.

BACKGROUND

Fire and police departments benefit immeasurably from productive partnerships between employers and employees.  Studies have shown that communities promoting such cooperation enjoy more effective and efficient delivery of emergency services.  Especially critical during our Nation’s current economic challenges, cooperation enables employers and employees to work together to confront unexpected budgetary constraints.  Such cooperation, however, is undermined in states that do not provide public safety employees with the fundamental right to bargain with their employers.

Over the years, Congress has expanded the scope of collective bargaining laws to protect private sector employees, non-profit association employees, transportation workers, federal government employees and, most recently, congressional employees.  One of the few groups of workers not covered by federal law is state and local government employees, including public safety officers.

While Congress has historically given states and localities wide latitude in managing their own employees, ensuring that public safety officers have basic collective bargaining rights is consistent with the increasing role of the public safety community in protecting our nation's homeland security.

CURRENT LEGISLATION

U.S. House:         H.R. 413, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
                           Sponsors:          Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI)
                                                     Representative John Duncan (R-TN)

U.S. Senate:        S. 1611, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
                           Sponsors:          Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
                                                     Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

Summary:           H.R. 413 and S. 1611 would grant public safety officers collective bargaining
                           rights in states that currently don’t have them.  The legislation would establish
                           minimum standards for state collective bargaining laws, including:  

                                    • the right of public safety officers to bargain over wages, hours and
                                      working conditions;
                                    • a dispute resolution mechanism, such as fact finding, mediation or
                                      arbitration; and
                                    • enforcement of contracts through state courts

                           The legislation expressly prohibits strikes and lockouts; does not infringe on
                           right-to-work laws; and does not interfere with existing state laws and collective
                           bargaining agreements.

Cosponsors H.R. 413

Cosponsors S. 1611

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

On January 9, 2009, H.R. 413 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.

On August 6, 2009, S. 1611 was introduced in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.