Petition: Public safety - Re-classify 911 Operators as Protective Service Occupation

911 operators save lives even amidst enormous stress. They are often the first call when there’s a disaster, a crime, or any kind of emergency. But these operators are classified by the government as “clerical.” That means they don’t get access to many benefits that first responders like them deserve. Hank started this petition urging lawmakers to reclassify 911 operators. “It takes a special person to answer a 911 call and be able to save a life,” he writes. Sign now to support these critical public safety professionals. Re-classify 911 Operators as Protective Service Occupation 8,134 have signed Hank Hunt’s petition. Let’s get to 10,000!

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The first 911 call in the United States came from Haleyville, Alabama and was made by Alabama Speaker of the House, Rankin Fite on February 16, 1968 to Tom Bevill, a U.S. Representative. This three digit number has since become the most recognized number in The United States. It takes a special person to answer a 911 call and be able to save a life by listening, hearing and understanding a critical situation and directing the appropriate help to assist or in some cases, actually verbally direct the caller on how to deliver a baby, defuse a Domestic Violence situation, give a person CPR or take a call and with the limited information from a 5 year old be able to communicate the appropriate assistance. For so many years 911 Operators, Telecommunicators or call takers have been classified as clerical which usually means they are paid wages drastically below the level of responsibility required of the position and do not qualify for many benefits. We ask the U.S. House of Representative to pass H.R. 2351 and the U.S. Senate to pass S.1175, The 911 Saves Act. Classifying public safety telecommunicators as Protective Service Occupations would correct an inaccurate representation in the Standard Occupational Classification, recognize these professionals for the lifesaving work they perform, and better align the Standard Occupational Classification with related classification systems.

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