Labor_Day_parade_Buffalo_NY

 

Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


Why JD?

JD_HayworthJD Hayworth is aware of work-related issues in law enforcement on a national basis and is supportive of legislation that will address the challenges in this arena.  Like PLEA, JD believes that labor strikes by law enforcement are unacceptable and put the public at risk.  The solutions that police labor can offer to make our towns, states, and nation safer are of great value to Mr. Hayworth.  He believes that legislation that facilitates dialogue and solutions between police labor and police management is sound public policy.  He’s seen it work here in Phoenix and would like to see it work across the nation for police associations who don’t have the advantage of working under a meet and confer agreement.

In 2001, the current PLEA Vice Grievance Chair Jerry Gannon was appointed as the liaison on the 800 MHz committee with the City of Phoenix by then President Jake Jacobsen.  Securing the radio frequencies was enacted 14 years prior to PPD even considering moving to 800 MHz.  Frequencies were secured by the independent FCC and frequencies were sold to large communication vendors.

In 1987, the Commission set aside six megahertz of bandwidth in the 800 MHz band for exclusive use by local, regional and state public safety agencies under guidelines developed by the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC).  When Jerry Gannon, on behalf of PLEA, requested Senator McCain to allow for the acquisition of more police bands beyond the limited allotted frequencies to avoid “bleed over” between frequencies, Senator McCain communicated that the requested frequencies had monetary value and thus were of great importance to the FCC.  PLEA’s request was denied.

While many stood silent at the lack of police equipment, the concerns of police pension abuse, and the importance of the rule of law, JD Hayworth stood up in support of PLEA and the rank and file officers they represent.  A visit from Washington every six years is not sufficient to meet the needs of first-responders in Phoenix.  Those who take boots-on-the-ground risks need boots-on-the-ground support.  JD Hayworth has unabashedly offered his support for local law enforcement in Phoenix and federal law enforcement throughout the country.