Collective Bargaining Hearing Set for March 10 March 8, 2010 – The House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the IAFF’s national collective bargaining bill, HR 413, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building. Witnesses testifying in support of the bill include: Jim Tate, president of the Fort Worth, TX Local 440; labor attorney Douglas L. Steele, a partner in the firm of Woodley & McGillivary; and the Republican Mayor of Lancaster, Ohio, the Honorable David S. Smith. Smith, who will be accompanied by Lancaster, OH Local 291 President K.J. Watts, will testify about his productive bargaining relationship with fire fighters. This marks the Subcommittee’s third hearing on the bill. Full Committee action on HR 413 is expected in due course following the hearing.