Fitzpatrick proposes labor rights for nation’s emergency responders

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) on Feb. 13 introduced bipartisan legislation that would permit police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel to establish their own labor unions.
The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, H.R. 1154, would provide collective bargaining rights for state-employed public safety officers, among other purposes, according to the congressional record summary. H.R. 1154 is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI).

“Our police officer, firefighters, and EMS personnel stepped up to serve their community and when we need help, they answer our call. They have earned the right to form a union and collectively bargain for fair hours and wages. I’m proud to stand with our first responders and Representative Kildee to introduce this important legislation,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday.

Currently, 20 states don’t provide state and local public safety employees with the ability to collectively bargain for fair wages and hours, according to information from Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office. Seven of these states prevent such employees from forming a labor union.

If enacted, H.R. 1154 would allow the Federal Labor Relations Authority to have three months to determine which states don’t provide such baseline rights, according to the congressman’s statement, and states then would have two years to comply with the law.

“I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Representative Fitzpatrick,” said Rep. Kildee. “America’s firefighters, police and emergency personnel should have the right to form a union and fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. These men and women serve our communities every day, regardless of personal risk, and deserve the ability to collectively bargain.”

He noted that while labor unions are vital to growing America’s middle class, lawmakers “have fallen short as a country in providing equal rights for our public safety officers.”

H.R. 1154 received support this week from groups including the National Association of Police Organizations, the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the National Association of Police Organizations, among other groups.

“The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act will ensure that public safety officers can meet with local officials to discuss how they do their jobs and how best to protect the public. We thank Congressman Kildee and Congressman Fitzpatrick for championing this important issue,” said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

Harold Schaitberger, the IAFF’s general president, said that H.R. 1154 would “give basic collective bargaining rights to firefighters and other public safety workers who do not have a say in their own personal safety or that of the people they protect.”

H.R. 1154 has been referred to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee for consideration.

Last year’s same-named bipartisan and bicameral bill, H.R. 4846/S. 2845, stalled in both houses of Congress. Rep. Fitzpatrick also cosponsored the House version at that time along with 57 other members.