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IAFF LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

The IAFF strongly supports the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act and encourages Members of Congress to support of 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. 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 a 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, the increasing role of the public safety community in homeland security creates an obligation for the federal government to ensure that public safety officers have basic collective bargaining rights.


CURRENT LEGISLATION

U.S. House:          H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
                          Sponsors:          Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI)
                                                 Representative John Duncan (R-TN)

U.S. Senate:         S. 2123, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
                          Sponsors:          Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
                                                 Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)

Summary:            H.R. 980 and S. 2123 would grant public safety officers collective
                          bargaining rights in states where they don’t have them already.  The bill
                          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 or mediation; 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. 980

Cosponsors S. 2123


CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

On February 12, 2007, H.R. 980 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.

On June 5, 2007, the House Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on H.R. 980.

On June 20, 2007, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved H.R. 980 by a vote of 42-1. 

On July 17, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 980 by a vote of 314-97.  To see how your Representative voted, click here:  Collective Bargaining Vote

On October 1, 2007, S. 2123 was introduced in the U.S. Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

On December 11, 2007, Senators Harkin (D-IA), Gregg (R-NH), and Kennedy (D-MA) offered S. 2123 as an amendment (S.A. 3830) to the Farm bill (H.R. 2419).

On December 13, 2007, Senate leaders attempted to bring up the amendment, S.A. 3830.  Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) objected and blocked the Senate from considering S.A. 3830.  Senators Harkin, Gregg and Kennedy were forced to withdraw their amendment.

On May 13, 2008, the U.S. Senate voted to consider H.R. 980 by a vote of 69 - 29.  To see how your Senator voted, click here:  Motion to Proceed on the Cooperation Act

On May 15, 2008, the U.S. Senate temporarily suspended debate on H.R. 980.  To read more, click here:  Collective Bargaining Bill Delayed


 


International Association of Fire Fighters
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Copyright © 2008 International Association of Fire Fighters.  Last Modified:  7/19/2008