The union will begin contract talks with the Sheriff's Office after the FOP beat the PBA in an election to represent the employees.
By DUANE BOURNE
Published December 4, 2003
BROOKSVILLE - Eight months after their unionization drive began, Hernando County sheriff's deputies voted for the Fraternal Order of Police to represent them in negotiations for salary and other benefits.
The state Public Employees Relations Commission announced on Wednesday that the FOP received 85 votes, while its rival, the Police Benevolent Association, got 66 votes.
"It was a long, hard push but we finally did it," said Hernando Deputy Steve Klapka, who belongs to the fraternal arm of the FOP. "I am happy with the turnout."
Of the 172 deputies eligible to vote, 151 returned secret, mail ballots that were counted. Two of the returned ballots were voided, said Steve Meck, PERC's general counsel.
Wednesday's vote means that contract talks can begin between FOP union representatives and the Sheriff's Office.
The FOP's victory is also indicative of the department's close ties to the organization's local lodge, FOP Lodge 164, which was started in 1997.
Sheriff Richard Nugent belongs to the group's fraternal wing, Klapka serves as the local chapter's immediate past president, and Deputy Mike Glatfelter was recently named president of FOP Lodge 164. Despite the close relationship, however, the outcome of the election was uncertain.
"It was touch and go," said Klapka. "I did not like some of the tactics that the PBA played, but then again it did not work."
While no specific issues, such as pay or benefits, have yet been raised, deputies will now form a bargaining committee made up of five to seven union members to begin negotiations.
Unionization became possible when in January, the Florida Supreme Court reversed a 1978 decision, finding that sheriffs' deputies are considered public employees, and thus entitled to collectively bargain over their wages, hours and other terms and conditions of their employment.
Three months later, the FOP petitioned the PERC for exclusive rights to represent the department's roughly 170 deputies. The PBA petitioned the PERC days later.
During the petitioning phase, union officials decided on the type of election and later proposed forming two separate bargaining units between the rank and file and managerial staff, which included about 30 sergeants and lieutenants.
Last month, about two-thirds of the department's top brass voted against forming a union.
Voting for the rank and file began in September, when deputies mailed secret ballots back to PERC headquarters in Tallahassee to select either union or reject unionization.
However, neither of the unions nor an option of no union received the majority of support from the sheriff's deputies when the votes were counted in October. That set the stage for Wednesday's runoff election between the FOP and PBA.
On Wednesday, once-common billboards reading, "VOTE FOP" were conspicuously absent from Hernando roadways. Also, the tiny flags with PBA in blue letters were uprooted from the shoulder of Clinton Boulevard next to the sheriff's main office.
"Going in, we knew it was a difficult relationship," said Al Boettjer, the PBA's staff representative. "I think we did well."
Despite the loss, Boettjer said he was happy that the PBA was involved in the election process, especially in light of the Florida Supreme Court's landmark decision.
"The deputies deserved to have bargaining," said Boettjer. "I am sure that the FOP will do a good job for the deputies, but I really do think that PBA does a better job than anyone."
- Duane Bourne can be reached at 352 754-6114. Send e-mail to dbourne@sptimes.com
