Going union?

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County Sheriff's Department employees have been in talks with local Teamsters union officials about the possibility of joining the union. The talks come after a Missouri Supreme Court decision handed down earlier this summer that granted public employees the right to unionize.

But the legalities of the situation are still in doubt.

Representatives of the Teamsters Local 600, which has offices in Cape Girardeau, approached the Scott County Commission on Tuesday, asking commissioners to grant their approval for sheriff's department employees to join their union. Robert Hutchings, business manager of Local 600, said more than 90 percent of the department's employees have signed "intent cards" expressing their desire to be included in the union.

But Scott County commissioners have asked for an election to be held among department employees, a common procedure when employees unionize. Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said the signing of intent cards might not necessarily mean employees are actually committed to unionizing the department, something an election can decide with more accuracy.

Currently, state statutes have no provisions to recognize unions, and an election to make the department a union shop would have to be conducted with the blessing of the state. The situation leaves Hutchings wondering what will happen next.

Dane Stausing, left, signaled fellow Scott County SERT member Jeff Schmitt to check a closet while entering a training house Friday in Sikeston, Mo.

"What we're trying to find out is what system we have in place now," Hutchings said Friday.

Under a Supreme Court ruling handed down in May, governments aren't bound to reach agreements on contracts with public sector unions, but if they do reach a contract agreement, the agreement is binding.

Burger said he had no comment related to any beneficial or detrimental effects of the unionization of the sheriff's department.

"I've had a lot of people talk to me about whether it will be good or bad, but really that's irrelevant," Burger said. "What the Missouri Supreme Court or legislators put into effect, we have to abide by."

Sheriff Rick Walter echoed that sentiment, and said the decision is one the employees have to make.

Scott County Sheriff SERT members practiced entering houses Friday in Sikeston, Mo. Scott County Sheriff's Department employees have been in talks with local Teamsters union officials about the possibility of joining the union. (Kit Doyle)

Hutchings said his union never approaches workers about organizing with the Teamsters, but lets them approach the union, which is what happened in Scott County's case. Hutchings said he's also had queries from other area public employees seeking information about unionizing, but didn't specify where those inquiries came from.

Walter said his employees approached him on the matter before seeking out the union.

"Some of the guys had come to me first and asked, 'Is this going to hurt you?'" Walter said. "I said, 'You guys do what you want to do. The Supreme Court said you can, so that's up to you.'"

The main reasons expressed by employees for wanting to unionize were job security in the case of a new sheriff being elected and the possibility of lower health insurance premiums, Walter said. Scott County workers currently pay $51.08 per month in premiums for their own coverage and $442.69 per month for themselves and a spouse.

Hutchings said the union can often guarantee premiums for three to four years in advance, instead of changing every year, and those premiums are often cheaper than employers can give.

Walter said he's heard about many police around the state taking similar measures to explore their rights to unionize.

But Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan said he's heard no talk about unionizing among his employees. In the Cape Girardeau city department, non-management employees are part of the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association, part of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Currently the association works on a "meet and confer" standard for contract negotiations, under which government employers are under no obligation to honor contract negotiations, said association president Bill Bohnert.

Association members pay dues but don't receive benefits like insurance, Bohnert said, but the association is a tax-exempt organization. The association also sponsors youth sports teams and holds fund-raisers for local charities.

Bohnert said the organization is awaiting clarification on how state law applies to public employees before exploring any collective bargaining options.

Cape Girardeau firefighters are unionized but work without a formal contract.

msanders@semissourian.com

Ron Meridith signed 'open door' to Jeremy Hill, who in turn signed Brant Pratt before entering a training home Friday, September 14, 2007, in Sikeston. Hill, and several other New Madrid County Sheriffs, trained with Scott County in order to have a multi-jurisdictional team. (Kit Doyle)

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