WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Maggie Hassan reintroduced the Public Service Employer-Employee Cooperation Act to protect public safety workers’, like police, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, collective bargaining rights to advocate for better, safer workplaces.
“Police officers, firefighters and EMS workers put their lives at risk to save others,” said Hickenlooper. “Just like all workers, they deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. Collective bargaining will help them to continue to serve our communities.”
“Every day, our public safety professionals answer the call to protect our communities and keep people safe,” said Hassan. “This legislation will help ensure that law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS workers can join a union and negotiate for a fair salary and benefits, no matter which state they work in.”
Currently, there are no uniform labor protections for public safety employees. In 16 states, they can’t collectively bargain for safe working conditions. In five states, they are unable to unionize altogether.
This bill would require the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether states are adequately upholding their laws, which protect public safety officers’ ability to:
- Form or join a labor organization
- Collectively bargain with their employers over hours, wages, and terms of conditions of employment
- Uphold existing labor agreements.
This legislation is supported by The Fraternal Order of Police, International Association of Firefighters, and the National Association of Police Organizations.
A one-page explanation of the bill is available HERE.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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