CWA: Public Safety Bargaining Bill an Important Step Forward

Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org

Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America, representing 22,000 public safety and law enforcement officers nationwide, urges the Senate to move forward on passage of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Act, S. 3991.

Public safety workers protect us and our communities. They deserve the opportunity to have their voices heard on the job. 

CWA and the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers-CWA support this important legislation and believe that all public safety officers should have bargaining rights. We are disappointed that the latest version of the legislation exempts deputy sheriffs from collective bargaining coverage. However, we are convinced that it is an important step forward in providing public safety officers with a voice in their careers and their communities. While some organizations representing public safety officers, including the Fraternal Order of Police, may not support the bill, CWA believes this measure is a critical first step to expanding bargaining rights for public safety officers. This bill has bipartisan support and the Senate should act now to approve it.

The AFL-CIO also supports this bill and has sent a letter to Senators calling for its passage.

In 25 states, public safety officers have no bargaining rights at all. S. 3991 will provide this critical voice to hundreds of thousands of law enforcement and public safety officers:  fire fighters, emergency medical service providers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, juvenile officers, state investigators and law enforcement officers in states and cities.

In nearly every state, CWA has been on the front lines in the fight to win bargaining rights for deputy sheriffs and all law enforcement and public safety officers. We are determined that all public safety workers, including deputy sheriffs, have the voice on the job they deserve and we will continue to work in state legislatures to get this job done.