Washington, D.C. – For the first time in seven years, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing today on Congressman Dale E. Kildee’s (D-MI) bill H.R. 980, to provide firefighters and police officers with basic workplace rights. Congressman Kildee has introduced this legislation in prior sessions of Congress but the Republican majority failed to take action and bring this bill up for consideration. H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007, now has the support of 235 co-sponsors – more than half of the members of the House of Representatives.

The legislation, authored by Congressman Kildee, would enable firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other public safety employees to discuss and negotiate workplace issues with their employers. Today’s hearing on H.R. 980 by the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee today is key to getting it passed.

“Firefighters, police officers and EMTs risk their lives to protect their communities. That is why I think it’s important to protect their rights,” Congressman Kildee said. “Unfortunately, some states in this country deny our public safety employees the basic right to discuss workplace issues with their employers – a right many Americans take for granted. My bill would change that. It would give them more workplace rights, so they are better able to do their jobs.”   

Specifically, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 requires each state to provide minimum collective bargaining rights to their public safety employees in whatever manner the states choose.  The bill also outlines certain provisions that must be included in state laws, but relegates the major decisions to the state legislatures. A majority of states, such as Michigan, would be exempt from this bill since they already offer collective bargaining rights.

Congressman Kildee’s legislation is significant since many firefighters and police officers do not have the luxury to discuss or negotiate workplace issues.  This act will empower these public safety employees to negotiate fundamental issues with their employers such as hours, wages and workplace conditions. This bill, however, does not permit strikes by public safety officers nor does it provide for mandatory binding arbitration.

The Public Safety Employer-Employee Act is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Fraternal Order of Police, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, International Union of Police Organizations, National Association of Police Organizations and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Congressman Kildee’s testimony at the hearing is available upon request.

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