Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007

May 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the Senate took the first step to passing the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 (S.2123). Senator Obama is an original cosponsor of the bill and voted in favor of beginning debate on it.

A Seattle firefighter: Photo by Narisa (CC)

"Our nation's firefighters, police officers, and public safety officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our neighborhoods and keep our communities safe. They represent some of the best our country has to offer, and they deserve the same right to bargain collectively that most other workers have.

"In too many communities, our brave first responders are unable to bargain over wages and working conditions and are denied access to outside mediation. By providing these men and women with collective bargaining rights, we can increase the dialogue between employers and employees over workplace issues, which ultimately leads to improved safety and the more efficient delivery of services to the public.

"Passing this legislation will mark the most meaningful action in years to restore the right of workers to organize for fair treatment, but we must go further and also pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Workers should be free to choose whether they want to join a union without fear of intimidation, coercion, or threats to their livelihoods. This bipartisan effort would make the process of organizing less vulnerable to employer violations by requiring card-check recognition and increasing penalties on employers that violate the law.

"Strengthening our workers' right to organize is important to restoring widespread prosperity and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace, and I hope my colleagues will join me in standing with America's workers."

Source: Senator Barack Obama

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