[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT W. NEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Public Safety 
Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999, a bill I proudly re-
introduce with the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee.
  This legislation, which was originally introduced in the 105th 
Congress and had 203 co-sponsors, establishes modest, minimum federal 
standards relating to collective bargaining for those groups who 
provide safety and security to the public, namely our fire fighters and 
police officers.
  Unfortunately, many of those whose job it is to protect the public 
from danger are left to fend for themselves. They do not have the right 
to negotiate such basic issues as hours, wages and conditions of 
employment because some states still do not provide collective 
bargaining rights for their public employees. This is especially 
troublesome since fire fighters and police officers take their oaths to 
serve and protect the public very seriously, putting themselves at risk 
for the public's well-being.
  Our bill recognizes the public safety officers' unique situation by 
creating a special collective bargaining right outside the scope of 
other federal labor law. More importantly, it does so without dictating 
to the states what their specific laws should be since the legislation 
is general enough to preserve a state's right to implement a collective 
bargaining statute on their own terms. Furthermore, states that already 
have collective bargaining laws in place would be exempt from the 
federal statute.
  I would like to make it clear that this legislation does not permit 
strikes by public safety officers nor does it provide for mandatory 
binding arbitration. This is in keeping with the bill's intent to 
provide a basic and fundamental right of negotiating for those who 
protect us without endangering the lives of the people they are hired 
to protect.
  It is well-known that labor-management relationships are based on 
trust, mutual respect, open communications, compromise and shared 
accountability. I believe this to be especially true as it relates to 
our public safety officers. We depend on them to maintain our safety 
and they depend on our respect and understanding if they are going to 
continue to provide us with the level of comfort in our communities to 
which we are accustomed. They deserve no less.
  This bill has the support of the International Association of Fire 
Fighters; the International Brotherhood of Police Officers; the 
International Union of Police Associations; the National Association of 
Police Organizations and the Fraternal Order of Police. It also has the 
bi-partisan support of over 125 of our colleagues upon its 
introduction.
  I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting the Public Safety 
Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999.

                          ____________________