The Fire Fighters and EMS Employer Employee Cooperation

The Fire Fighters and EMS Employer Employee Cooperation Act Shannon Meissner Director, Governmental Affairs June 28, 2021

Issue History • 20+ years in Congress • Numerous convention resolutions • 2007 – Passed in House (314 -97), failed in Senate • 2019/2020 – House flips 2 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The Cooperation Act in the 116 th Congress 2019 • Reintroduce the bill • Congressional Hearing • Concerns raised among some Members of Congress regarding police rights relating to discipline • Begin discussions among stakeholders to resolve concerns 2020 • Discussions continue • COVID puts pause on most non-pandemic legislation 3 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The Cooperation Act Today 2021 • No compromise to be found among stakeholders • IAFF reintroduces Cooperation Act as fire/EMS only bill H. R. 2586 – Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) S. 2178 – Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) 4 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The Cooperation Act: The Basics • Provides basic workplace rights to fire fighters and emergency medical personnel. • The bill is carefully crafted to provide basic collective bargaining rights while protecting states’ rights. • Does not interfere with right to work laws. 5 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The COOPERATION ACT DOES… Right to form and join a union Right for management to acknowledge it as representative body Right to a contract Right to bargain over hours, wages and working conditions Right to dispute mechanism Right to have this law enforced in court or through state agency 6 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The COOPERATION ACT DOES NOT… 7 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

OTHER COMPONENTS = Two years for state compliance, but if not… …the FLRA can step in and administer 8 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT CB? Collective bargaining is the process in which working people, through their unions, negotiate contracts with their employers to determine their terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, and more. Collective bargaining is a way to solve workplace problems. 9 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT CB? 10 Collective bargaining is a way to… • …Because it’s not about you! …bring people together and talk about the best ways to serve the community. • It’s about them! Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT CB? • PUBLIC SAFETY • Keeping the public safe, acquiring the tools necessary to do the job, talent retention and recruitment and safety for workers. COVID Examples! • FAIRNESS • Workers putting their life on the line should have the same rights as workers in the private sector. • First Amendment • NATIONAL SECURITY • First responders asked to work together beyond state borders to address biological threats, hazardous materials incidents, wildland fires… 11 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

Questions about Law Enforcement I support law enforcement, and your bill excludes them. 12 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC • We support the rights of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement to bargain over discipline. • Happy to amend bill to include law enforcement when a compromise is reached.

Questions about Law Enforcement Rep. Stauber Cooperation Act 13 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC • Rep. Stauber (R-MN) introduced our old Employer. Employee Cooperation Act at the request of law enforcement • We don’t oppose this bill • Committee will not consider the Stauber bill

The Path Forward • House first • Committee on Education and Labor to hold hearing, markup this year. • Floor vote follows 14 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

The Ask • Ask your member to cosponsor the Cooperation Act. • Tell House Leadership to give H. R. 2586 a vote on the floor this year. • Share your stories. Describe how having a seat at the table has improved safety and performance, particularly during a pandemic. • Reference the issues book and supporting materials for additional info to help make your case. 15 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

Important Contacts • House: H. R. 2586 • To cosponsor, offices should contact Hannah Jenuwine with Representative Kildee: Hannah. Jenuwine@mail. house. gov or Joe Knowles with Representative Fitzpatrick: joseph. knowles@mail. house. gov • Senate: S. 2178 • To cosponsor, offices should contact Mike Waske with Senator Hickenlooper: michael_waske@help. senate. gov 16 Legislative Conference | Washington, DC

Top Targets HOUSE (H. R. 2586) 17 SENATE (S. 2178) üAll Members üPast Cosponsors üEducation and Labor Committee members ü Health, Education and Labor Committee members Legislative Conference | Washington, DC