On Wednesday, March 10, the U.S. Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to examine legislation that would extend the right to bargain collectively for better working conditions, wages, or benefits to public safety officers such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical services personnel.
The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 is heralded by some as providing basic labor protections for state and local public safety workers. Identical legislation passed the House of Representatives in 2007 on a bipartisan vote of 314 to 97.
U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee (DMI), author of H.R. 413 and member of the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions argues the bill, “would merely create a minimum standard that states have the flexibility to implement, regulate and enforce as they see fit. Additionally, this legislation does not allow strikes or lockouts and it preserves management rights.”
The archived webcast of this hearing can be found by visiting: http://edwork.edgeboss.net/wmedia/edwork/help/help031010.wvx
Copies of Testimony can be found by visiting: http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2010/03/hr-413-public-safety-employer-.shtml
