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collectivebargaining
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Collective
Bargaining
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Public Safety Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act (HR 814/ S 606)
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The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation
Act (HR 814/ S 606) is designed to provide fire fighters and police
officers with basic collective bargaining rights, without undermining
state authority or existing state laws. The legislation establishes modest
minimum standards to be included in state laws, while leaving decisions
regarding implementation, enforcement and all significant details of such
laws to the states.
This legislation would not affect a majority of
states because their laws already meet or exceed the minimum standards.
States that do not have such laws would be given the choice of either
enacting a law or having the Federal Labor Relations Authority establish
procedures for bargaining between public safety officers and public safety
agencies in their state.
Recognizing the unique nature of public safety
work, the legislation expressly outlaws strikes, and relies on negotiation
to resolve disputes.
Specifically, the legislation:
 | Guarantees the right of public safety officers
to form and join a union; |
| Guarantees the right to bargain collectively
over hours, wages and conditions of employment; |
| Provides for enforcement of contracts through
state courts; |
| Protects all existing certification,
recognitions, elections, and collective bargaining agreements or
memorandums or understanding; |
| Outlaws strikes and provides for dispute
resolution mechanisms, such as mediation, fact finding or arbitration
to resolve disputes; |
| Exempts all states with a state bargaining law
for public safety officers equal to or greater than the federal law;
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| Provides states maximum flexibility in
implementing a basic collective bargaining law; |
| Protects state right-to-work laws; |
| Protects the rights of volunteer fire
fighters. |
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Collective Bargaining FAQ
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What is
Collective Bargaining?
Collective Bargaining is a right that is
enjoyed by all private sector, federal, most state and local government
employees across the United States, even MARTA employees. Collective
bargaining allows employers and employees to meet, discuss and agree to
issues relating to wages, benefits, and working conditions. Both parties
are to work in good faith towards working out differences.
Does Georgia allow Collective Bargaining?
Yes, the Georgia law (Firefighter’s Mediation
Act Chapter 25-5-1) does allow firefighters to join labor union and
enter into contracts with local municipalities having over 20,000
citizens. The contract is for 1year. Unfortunately the state legislature
allows municipalities to decide whether they will enter into collective
bargaining.
Will firefighters strike?
DeKalb Professional Fire Fighters, Local 1492
constitution has been written so that the union will not strike or
organize work stoppages or slowdowns. The Firefighter’s Mediation Act
also outlaws such actions by the bargaining unit and it also prevents
employers from locking the employees out of their work areas. The Public
Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (HR814/S 606) also mandates
that firefighters will not strike, work slowdowns or stoppages.
Firefighters do not want this because our job is to protect lives and
property or the public.
Will collective bargaining cost money?
No, currently firefighters can only go to state
or federal court to solve issues that effect wages, benefits or working
conditions. Going to court cost the citizens more to litigate issues
than to meet and work out problems between firefighters and management.
When issues are worked out is cost the citizens less in tax dollars for
lawyers and legal fees. The issues are also solved more quickly than
going through the already clogged legal system, which saves on possible
future costs of paying a settlement.
What can I do to help?
It is important to let those who support
firefighters in Georgia know that you appreciate them and support
them. Write a thank you note to the senators and representatives who
support collective bargaining for firefighters. Let them know that
firefighters are important to the state of Georgia.
Secondly we need to let those who do not want firefighters to have
collective bargaining rights know that we need this legislation.
Unfortunately, the Republican delegation from Georgia does not want to
support firefighters and their right to meet with their employer and
work out differences stemming from wages, benefits and working
conditions. Write to your representatives to let them know that
collective bargaining is important to you and ask them to either
become a co-sponsor or support the Public Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act (HR 814). To
write your representative click here.
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Any questions about Collective Bargaining or any other
political issues please contact:
Joe Trimble,
President
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