Tell Senate to give public safety officers basic bargaining rights

The House recognized this need for public safety employees’ rights when it overwhelmingly passed its version of the bill last year with a vote of 314-97. The same bipartisan support is now needed in the Senate.

From the E-Mail

Dear Joe, Senate Vote on Tuesday: Give Basic Bargaining Rights to Public Safety Officers Write Your Senators Now! Firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical service personnel are often the first on the scene for emergencies big and small. But tens of thousands of these public safety officers do not have the right to negotiate with their employers, leaving them without a voice at work. A bill in the Senate would ensure these public safety officers have minimum collective bargaining rights in the few states where those rights are not already guaranteed. As soon as tomorrow - Tuesday, May 13 - the Senate could vote on the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (S. 2123). Write your Senators now and ask them to vote "YES" on this bill: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/public_safety_collective_bargaining The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act would give public safety employees the right to collective bargaining, and would ensure that workplace issues directly affecting public safety can be discussed between these employees and their employers. These minimum rights would include: the right to bargain over wages, hours, and working conditions; a dispute resolution mechanism; and enforcement of contracts through state courts. And given the unique responsibilities of the public safety community, the bill would specifically outlaw strikes by firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel. The vast majority of America’s workers already have the right to bargain collectively. Yet tens of thousands of our nation's firefighters, police officers, and homeland security workers are unfairly denied this basic protection. The House recognized this need for public safety employees’ rights when it overwhelmingly passed its version of the bill last year with a vote of 314-97. The same bipartisan support is now needed in the Senate. Ask your Senators to vote YES on S. 2123: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/public_safety_collective_bargaining Thank you for standing up to give firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical personnel the voice they deserve. Sincerely, Liz Cattaneo American Rights at Work www.AmericanRightsatWork.org

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