Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
07/17/2007
Pelosi: We Must Protect the Rights of Men and Women Who Protect Our Homes and Families
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House
Democrats joined several dozen police officers, firefighters and other public
safety officers at a rally at the Capitol this afternoon to celebrate House
passage today of H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
of 2007, which extends collective bargaining rights to public safety employees
in all 50 states. The bill passed by a vote of 314 to 97. Below are Pelosi’s remarks:
“Today the House achieved an historic victory on behalf of
the brave men and women who valiantly protect Americans every day – our police,
firefighters, correction officers, and emergency services personnel.
“By guaranteeing the right of these courageous first
responders to collective bargaining in all 50 states, the House has gone on
record in favor of better wages, benefits and working conditions for the men
and women who keep watch over our neighborhoods and protect our nation.
“This is necessary because 20 states do not fully protect
the collective bargaining rights of workers and this legislation is desperately
needed to ensure that the police, firefighters, correction officers, and
emergency services personnel are guaranteed the right to organize and bargain
collectively.
“I would like to thank the public service union
representatives who have joined us this afternoon to celebrate this tremendous
win for their members.
“Every year, more than 21,000 police officers and 75,000
firefighters are injured on the job.
Collective bargaining gives police and firefighters a voice in improving
working conditions so they can do their very difficult jobs and then return
safely to their families.
“I am proud of the action the House has taken today to protect the rights of these men and women who every day work to protect our homes and families. Thank all of you for your courage and your service to our country.”