U.S. House Passes Collective Bargaining Bill for Public Safety Employees
July 24, 2007
VICTORY ON CAPITOL HILL- Connecticut Council of Police Unions/AFSCME Council 15 Pres. Paul Ariola commends the passage of a U.S. House bill granting collective bargaining rights to public safety officers during a press conference on Capitol Hill. He is joined by Tim Shafer (left), president of the Corrections Assembly of the Ohio Civil Services Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11.
CREDIT:
Jay Mallin
It was a long wait for the men and women who protect our nation, but after a 12-year battle they've won. By an overwhelming bipartisan majority, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill extending collective bargaining rights to police, firefighters and other first responders in all 50 states. "This is a great day for public safety officers. They risk their lives every day and they deserve basic workplace protections," said AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee.
The Public Safety Employer - Employee Cooperation Act (H.R. 980), approved 314-97, allows public safety workers to join unions and bargain over wages and workplace matters. The bill was originally introduced in 1995 and subsequently introduced every year. It will now go to the Senate.
"People who do the first responder jobs will have a right to negotiate over pay and benefits and also training needs, which will enhance the safety and security of our communities," said Tim Shafer, president of the Corrections Assembly of the Ohio Civil Services Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11.
Shafer's words were echoed by Connecticut Council of Police Unions/AFSCME Council 15 Pres. Paul Ariola.
"In Connecticut, we've had collective bargaining for the past 25 years and we've been able to sit at the table, across from management and work together. I appreciate very much that Congress passed this bill today so that everyone else can enjoy the rights we've enjoyed all this time," Ariola said.
Shafer and Ariola were joined in a press conference on the steps of Capitol Hill by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), and numerous first responders (click here to see a video).
"The House achieved a historic victory on behalf of the great men and women who valiantly protect Americans everyday: our police, firefighters, corrections officers end emergency services personnel," Pelosi said.
