H.R. 413, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009

On Wednesday, March 10, the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine legislation that would extend the right to bargain collectively for better working conditions, wages, or benefits to public safety officers such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical services personnel. Only 25 states fully protect the right of state and local public safety employees to collectively bargain.

The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009 would provide basic labor protections for state and local public safety workers. Identical legislation passed the House of Representatives in 2007 on a bipartisan vote of 314 to 97.