COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL TO GET HOUSE VOTE AFTER RECESS!

Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives has stated that H.R. 413, the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act," would be "among the first" bills considered on the House floor following the Easter recess.

With Members of Congress home in their States and districts, this is a perfect time to make your voice heard!

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK HIM OR HER TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF H.R. 413 AFTER THE RECESS!!!

You can find your Representatives' district office phone number using http://www.congress.org, or contact their office through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121. When you reach their Washington office, ask for the district office phone number as well!.

The bill would recognize the fundamental right of public safety employees--primarily law enforcement officers and firefighters--to form and join unions and bargain collectively with their employers over wages, hours, and working conditions without undermining existing State labor laws. Basically, H.R. 413 would require:

• the right of employees to form and join a union;

• a requirement that the public safety employer recognize the union and agree to bargain over hours, wages, and the terms and conditions of employment; and

• the availability of an impasse resolution mechanism such as fact-finding or mediation.

The legislation does not require binding arbitration and would prohibit strikes and lockouts. You should emphasize that collective bargaining is a critical tool to resolve differences, not create them.

Law enforcement officers and firefighters do not have a traditional labor-management relationship. The bottom line is not shareholder profit versus wages, but how to best keep the public safe and get the officers safely home at the end of their shifts. The success of the law enforcement mission depends on an open dialogue that is absent in far too many of our departments today.

DON'T DELAY -- CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY!!!

This is very important legislation. If passed in both the House & Senate and then signed by the President (which he has promised to do) then we will finally get the right to Collective Bargaining in Virginia. Once we get Collective Bargaining rights, YOU will need a strong Union to fight for you. The Richmond Coalition of Police and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers will be here, ready, willing and able to fight for Your rights. Stand with us NOW!! Contact your U.S. Congressmen and women and let them know that you want them to support H.R. 413 - the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act".