COUNSELING CENTER WORKERS TO CONSIDER UNIONIZATION

Workers at the Cape Girardeau Community Counseling Center will vote early next month on whether to have Teamster representation.

Teamsters Union Local 574 have asked for a vote on June 3. A secret-ballot election will be conducted at the center, 402 S. Silver Springs Road.

About 65 employees will be eligible to take part in the election, including employees from offices in Perryville and Ste. Genevieve. "We cover a five-county area -- Cape Girardeau, Madison, Bollinger, Perry and St. Francois -- from three offices," said Roger Henry, executive director of the center.

The Community Counseling Center vote marks the third vote this year on union representation in Cape Girardeau County. Both previous votes involved the Teamsters.

In January, workers at The Ceramo Co. in Jackson turned down representation, and in March, employees of M&W Packaging in Cape Girardeau rejected a union organizing effort.

Meanwhile, the Community Counseling Center is in the process of reorganizing its board.

"We've now have an 18-member board," said Henry. "This is an increase over our original 12-member board." Board members serve three-year terms.