with collective bargaining rights comparable to or greater than the rights and responsibilities set forth in this Act, and such State and local laws should be respected. (9) While the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) protects the rights of private-sector employees to form or join unions, act concertedly for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and bargain collectively with their employers, no Federal law protects these fundamental labor rights for employees of the States, including territories and possessions of the United States, and the political subdivisions thereof. The Federal Government needs to encourage conciliation, mediation, and dispute resolution to aid and encourage public employers and the representatives of their public employees to reach and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, hours, and working conditions, and to make all reasonable efforts through negotiations to settle their differences by mutual agreement reached through collective bargaining or by such methods as may be provided for in any applicable agreement for the settlement of disputes. (b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act to— (1) secure the rights of public employees to form or join unions, act concertedly for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and bargain collectively with their employers