Page Title : NAPO : National Association of Police Organizations

House Passes Public Safety
Collective Bargaining Bill

In an outstanding victory for NAPO and the rank and file law enforcement community, the House of Representatives passed the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, H.R. 980, by an overwhelming vote of 314 to 97!

NAPO President Tom Nee spoke at a rally together with Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Majority Whip Steny Hoyer, members of Congress and public safety groups on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to commemorate this event:

"On behalf of the National Association of Police Organizations, representing 238,000 rank and file law enforcement officers from across the nation, I want to thank Representatives Kildee and Duncan for sponsoring this important legislation, as well as Chairman Miller and Chairman Andrews for their work moving it through Committee. Your efforts on behalf of the public safety community have been tremendous. This is truly a great day for public safety officers. NAPO has been fighting to extend basic collective bargaining rights to all public safety officers for 12 years. The passage of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act today in the House is long overdue recognition to those who put their lives on the line everyday to protect the public. These officers deserve these basic American rights. NAPO looks forward to seeing this bill pass in the Senate and signed into law by the President."

This victory in the House is a significant step forward for giving public safety officers the right to collectively bargain, but our work is not done. NAPO is now focusing our efforts toward working with Senators Edward Kennedy and Judd Gregg to introduce and pass this important legislation in the Senate.

Thank you again for your efforts in helping us to pass this bill!

NAPO is pleased to announce that the House Education and Labor Committee overwhelmingly approved the “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act,” H.R. 980, by a vote of 42-1 on June 20, 2007. Not since the 107^th Congress in 2001, has this legislation had so much momentum and support.

The “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act” will guarantee the rights of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service workers in all 50 states to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. States that offer equal or greater collective bargaining rights will be exempt for this federal statute.

Approximately twenty states do not fully protect the collective bargaining rights of public safety employees, and two states – Virginia and North Carolina – prohibit public safety employees from collectively bargaining.

NAPO is working closely with Congressmen Dale Kildee (D-MI) and John Duncan (R-TN) to ensure the passage of this legislation. At the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions hearing on the “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act,” NAPO was the only rank and file law enforcement organization to testify in support of this bill and its importance to public safety officers.

NAPO thanks Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Chairman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee, as well as Congressmen Kildee and Duncan, for their efforts to pass H.R. 980 and for their continued support of law enforcement.

[Click here to view the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act"]

House Passes Public Safety Collective Bargaining Bill

Public Safety Collective Bargaining Bill Approved by House Committee

House Passes Public Safety
Collective Bargaining Bill

Public Safety Collective Bargaining
Bill Approved by House Committee