Additional City Workers Join Union
Posted on: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 09:00 CDT
By Brian Barber, Tulsa World, Okla.
May 15--The city's 800 office-technical and administrative-technical employees are unionizing under the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1180.
This adds a fourth bargaining unit to the union and nearly doubles its membership from about 1,000.
"Forming a union is our legal and democratic right, and we decided to exercise that right," said Laureen Gilroy, a Public Works Department employee. "Having a union means that we can work to improve conditions on the job and give employees a voice at work."
A majority of the employees submitted union interest ballots to the state's Public Employee Relations Board this month.
The Oklahoma Municipal Employee Collective Bargaining Act of 2004 allows municipal employees in cities with populations of more than 35,000 to form unions. The law withstood legal challenges.
Local 1180 President Mark Stodghill said he is proud to have the employees join the union.
"They have gone much too long without a strong, organized voice in the workplace," he said.
"Now it's time that the union members of this new unit all roll
up their sleeves and get their first contract to cement their rights as employees represented by a union."
Membership cards are being distributed for the employees to sign. All will be represented, but those who opt not to join and pay dues will not be able to participate in union votes.
Since the 2004 law took effect, the AFSCME also has gained the city's 911 operators and airport police as members. The union has for years represented the municipal labor and trades employees.
Tulsa's police officers and firefighters are represented by their own unions.
Brian Barber 581-8322 brian.barber@tulsaworld.com
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Source: Tulsa World
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