WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 980, The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007

Comment by me (June 25, 2008, 01:00:00)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

All I have to say is 06/18/07 Charleston,SC collective bargaining would have helped...

Comment by TS (June 21, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

This could be a great thing for NC police officers in terms of due process. Many police departments in NC, especially in smaller towns, treat their employees poorly. With no legitimate due process system in discipline cases, low wages, and a 30 year retirement system the result has been a high turnover. The state and municipalities do all they can to keep unions out and they are actually spending more money on training new employees over and over again because no one stays in the job. As a result, citizens have inexperienced officers on the street. This is a long time coming and it can’t get her soon enough. The oppression has gone on long enough!...

Comment by Jonathon (May 27, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

As a six year officer of a police department in a state with no collective bargaining laws, I am elated in the fact that we may soon have some relief. I have made the same amount of money throughout my tenure here. We are suppose to get merit raises, but that is a joke. Most of the officers on the department have to work extra jobs just to survive. I can't believe that some of the people that are complaining about this bill are actually public safety officers. The sad fact of the matter is I am going back to school in order to leave. I love what I do and want to stay, but without a break soon, I am going to either go broke cause I don't work enough, or lose my family because I work too much. As I said we have not gotten a merit raise since I was hired on. To make up for it, we a "given" across the board raises which just masks our insurance going up. I applaud the House for the job they did and look forward to the Senate making the same decision. Thank you....

Comment by CCFRMedic (May 25, 2008, 01:00:00)

Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Unbelievable! How can you say leave it up to the states to decide what we need? If it was that easy, don't you think we would? We fight for what we need but without any bite behind our bark, who is going to listen? We have families that we want to go home to but if we don't make it back, we want them taken care of. Are you going to pay their bills when I am gone mr. and mrs. taxpayer? Seems the general public has no idea of what we really do and some have no respect for us until they really need us. It shouldn't be that way. We chose our profession because we love our jobs and love to serve our community in better way than getting a "higher" education and a "higher" paying job. As far as eliminating the volunteer system, I believe if you read it right, you can still do both. Don't just jump to conclusions about what you can and can not do. We do not volunteer at your "high" paying job so your boss does not have to pay you to do your job, so don't volunteer at mine....

Comment by Karen (May 16, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

What ever happened to states being able to determine what their states need. I thought Republicans like that. This means we'll be bankrupt just like the auto industry and airlines....

Revision by webmaster (May 16, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 980 would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 13, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 5/15/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Comment by Detective Duff Brumley (May 15, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

I am an eleven year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department in Cleveland,TN. Let me say thank you to any and all congressman and senators for supporting this bill. Your actions have spoken louder than the words of the opposition of this bill. I believe all public safety workers should have the same employment rights as those in the private sector. All of us at the Cleveland Police Department are humbled by the amount of respect these legislators have shown us by trying to give us an avenue to be heard. Once again, thank you. Duff Brumley...

Revision by webmaster (May 15, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 980 would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 13, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 5/14/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of May 15, 2008

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

5/15/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.

Comment by William Bailey- Virginia (May 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

I like it and it is a much needed bill that brings a voice to the actual first responders and btw: I'm a volunteer FF AND an IAFF member......

Revision by webmaster (May 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 980 would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 13, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 5/13/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Measure laid before Senate by motion.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of May 14, 2008

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

5/14/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate.

Status as of May 13, 2008

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

5/13/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Measure laid before Senate by motion.

Revision by webmaster (May 8, 2008, 01:00:00)

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 980 would provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 13, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by states or local governments.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 5/7/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of May 7, 2008

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT

5/7/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.

Comment by Randy (February 26, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

As I read the bill, nobody is being forced to do anything. They are simply given the right to choose whether or not they want to participate in the collective bargaining process. As Jonathan Edwards stated, "It should be as easy to join a labor union as it is to join the Republican Party....

Comment by MIKE (February 12, 2008, 01:00:00)

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

THIS BILL SHOULD BE CALLED THE "RESPECT" BILL. FINALLY WE WILL HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT OTHER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING JOBS HAVE HAD I.E. THE AUTO INDUSTRY/OTHER POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ECT... THE OFFICERS/TROOPERS/FIREMEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO BARGAIN FOR A FAIR WAGE FOR A DANGEROUS JOB THAT NONE OF THE CRITICS WOULD HAVE THE GUTS OR DEDICATION TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY....

Comment by FirefighterSC (January 14, 2008, 01:00:00)

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

This bill does NOT endanger volunteer fire departments. See for yourself: http://www.fireengineering.com/display_article/309380/25/none/none/GOVMT/National-Volunteer-Fire-Council-on-article-regarding-collective-bargaining-legislatio FirefighterSC...

Comment by Eric (January 4, 2008, 01:00:00)

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST

This bill is not just to help out with receiving better wages. It's also to help out the individual departments with the necessary training and equipment. Training and equipment used to make their personnel come out on top in any situation. We don’t just deserve this bill, our families deserve this bill!...

Comment by Hi James (December 27, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

This is a bad bill. I'm a Texas fire fighter and your comment is false. Most if not all of Texas' major citis enjoy collective bargaining. We put it to the local tax payers threw a referendum. That's the way it should be. This is a right to work state. We want to keep it a right to work state....

Comment by James (December 16, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

This piece of legislation is sorely needed across the country, especially for the Southern states. Collective Bargaining for public safety in the South is almost non-existant. I am in Kansas and enjoy collective bargaining in my local jurisdiction. However, our collective bargaining can be voted out by our local city commissioners just the same way they were voted in. In every negotiation session so far (three contracts) we have been suddely threatened about that becoming a reality. I pray that this legislation becomes law and fast! Call your Senators and encourage them to vote in favor of this bill!!!!!...

Comment by Steve (December 14, 2007, 01:00:00)

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

Hey Tony, next time your car get broke into or house gets burglarized, just remeber that response time,,,because we went and got another job....

Comment by Jonathan Bell (December 13, 2007, 01:00:00)

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST

The Public Safety Employer–Employee Cooperation Act (H.R. 980) would force all state and local governments to collectively bargain with police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Although this bill gives the appearance of respecting local control and flexibility, it actually severely restricts the freedom of state and local governments to tailor their policies to their needs. H.R. 980 would force states to negotiate subjects such as replacing a merit-based pay system with seniority-based promotions, which many local governments have found to be inappropriate in their jurisdictions. Congress should not force states and localities to recognize public sector unions as their employees' exclusive representatives....

Comment by Pam (November 25, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

You guys obviously know nothing about unions. The IAFF doesn't allow members to volunteer in counties with a paid unionized staff. This doesn't mean anyone has to choose the IAFF to represent them, they can form their own union with it's own constitution. Also taxes aren't going to go to arbitration expenses, union dues will....

Comment by Adam Kinnon (November 25, 2007, 01:00:00)

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST

I'm a fourteen year career fire fighter in a relatively large city. There is a lot more to this bill than is being discussed. I believe it's up to the local governing entity and the tax payer to determine the negotiating process. What's not being talked about is cities using these contracts to circumvent objective hiring processes in order to implement affirmative action programs. Union bosses pushing for monopoly bargaining authority. The ability of CB contracts to circumvent State Right to Work laws. The use of these contracts by unions to attack the volunteer fire service. It's not the federal government's job to dictate to a local government and local tax payer about how to negotiate with city and state employees. This is a bad bill....