[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, today I 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 2001.
  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 sizeable group of 
workers without the rights to collectively bargain are employees of 
state and local government.
  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 livelihoods and families.
  The Public Safety Employer-Employee Act establishes basic minimum 
standards that state 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.
  Firefighters and police men and women 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 2001.

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