[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E403-E404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join 
my friend from Ohio, Mr. Ney, myself, and over 100 of their colleagues, 
to support the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999.
  Congress has long recognized the importance of assuring and 
protecting the right of workers to collectively bargain. Over the 
years, federal laws have been extended to guarantee collective 
bargaining to different sectors and now the only sizable group of 
workers without the rights to collectively bargain are employees of 
state and local government.
  This is particularly troubling as it applies to the public safety 
arena. Fire fighters and police officers take seriously their oath to 
protect the public and as a result they do not engage in worker 
slowdowns or stoppages. The absence of the right to collectively 
bargain denies them the opportunity to influence decisions that affect 
their lives.
  The Public Safety Employer-Employee Act provides public safety 
officers with a collective bargaining right that is outside the scope 
of other federal labor laws. This legislation establishes basic minimum 
standards that state

[[Page E404]]

laws must meet and provides a process to resolve impasses in states 
without such laws. States that already have collective bargaining laws 
would be exempt from the federal statute. Furthermore, this bill 
prohibits strikes and does not call for mandatory binding arbitration.
  Public safety workers risk their lives every day to protect the 
public. At the very least, they should be allowed to bargain for wages, 
hours, and safe working conditions. This bill helps workers, 
management, and the general public, because employer-employee 
cooperation leads to cost savings and better delivery of services.
  This bill is supported by the International Association of Fire 
Fighters, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, International 
Union of Police Organizations, National Association of Police 
Organizations, and the Fraternal Order of Police.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting the Public Safety 
Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999.

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