Next Meeting: Monday
August 2nd @ 8:30am Tuesday August 3rd @ 7pm
U.S. House of Representatives Gives Fire Fighters
Collective Bargaining Rights
July 1, 2010 -- The U.S. House of Representatives has
approved a bill to give collective bargaining rights to fire fighters
and other public safety officers.
The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act assures that fire
fighters in every state will have the right to talk to their employer
about how to improve public safety and do their jobs more safely. The
initiative was included in a supplemental appropriation bill adopted by
a vote of 239-182.
“Seventy-five years after passage of the National Labor Relations Act,
fire fighters are a step closer to having the same rights that workers
in the private sector have had since 1935,” says IAFF General President
Harold Schaitberger.
While most fire fighters and law enforcement officers are already
provided bargaining rights under state laws, too many public safety
officers do not have the ability to present ideas about how they can
better protect the public safety. The Public Safety Employer-Employee
Cooperation Act will ensure that every state allows discussions between
first responders and the agencies that employ them, and will promote
productive partnerships between labor and management.
Collective bargaining is especially important in light of the fiscal
crisis facing many localities. Over the past two years, fire fighters
have offered millions of dollars in concessions and given back raises
and benefits previously agreed to in order to prevent cuts that would
undermine public safety.
The Senate will take up the measure following its July 4 recess.
Info from IAFF web site
A new website where firefighters can advertise their business for FREE.
You can advertise on www.SCFireNet.com for FREE at the Business Level.
Or if you are looking for a service like ( Home Inspection,
Realtor, Training Services, ect.) check out our website.
Support Public Safety. Support the Unified Fire Contract
between Richland County and the City of Columbia.
NFPA 1710
NFPA 1710 is a standard that sets minimum criteria for the effectiveness and efficiency
of emergency operations to protect the safety of the Public and Fire Department
employees. NFPA 1710 Fact Sheet
We Can Make a Difference. Let your voice be
heard.
Call your senator TODAY and let them you want them to
support the Collective Bargaining Bill.
The Senate switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. Simply call this number
and ask to be transferred to your senator's office.
For more information about collective
bargaining rights and current congressional action, click here:
Collective Bargaining Fact Sheet
Learn more about the importance of
collective bargaining rights for public safety officers:
Key Points
Columbia
is Hot when it comes to Fires! Actually, Columbia is just hot period!
Anyway, Visit our Fire Photos section and
check out
Columbia'sBravest in Action! If you have photos and would
like to share them please send them in via e-mail with location, date
and time if possible, and units responding to
photos@local793.com
I'd like to give a special thanks for photographers Robert Busbee and Pete
Rogers for their dedication and efforts and of course great pictures!
Thanks - The Columbia Firefighter's Association local793.