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By MOLLY MOORHEAD, Times Staff WriterMore than half of the 26 eligible officers turned in cards asking for a vote on joining a union.
ZEPHYRHILLS - The Police Department is pushing closer to forming a collective bargaining unit, with a majority of officers expressing support for unionizing.
Denny Phillips of the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association said 17 of the department's 26 eligible officers had turned in cards asking for a vote on joining a union.
The cards are being processed by the Public Employees Relations Commission, which will schedule an election, probably in October, Phillips said. To form a collective bargaining unit, at least 50 percent plus one of eligible officers must vote in favor.
In that case, the union would represent all Zephyrhills officers from the rank of sergeant down.
"Our position is pretty singular," said PBA president Kevin Durkin. "We think ... that the law enforcement aspect of city government should be first and foremost. We can craft contract language that's constructive to meet the goals of the city, the citizens and the police officers themselves."
Zephyrhills is the only municipal department in Pasco not represented by a union. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office also is not unionized - an initiative was voted down two years ago.
Discussions about unionizing in Zephyrhills came to light late last year, when officers approached the PBA about representation. At the time, they complained about having to work excessive overtime, equipment failure and inconsistencies in how punishments are handed out.
The equipment issue has been addressed, said police Chief Russell Barnes. But he acknowledged that the other issues remain.
"I'm sure they're frustrated," Barnes said Monday. "They're just beat from all the overtime. That has got to affect your mood and your efficiency.
"As far as the discipline issues are concerned, that's something that I think you always tend to hear in most organizations.
"I'm going to be looking at maybe tightening up the lines a little bit. But I need to leave a range in there. We're dealing with human beings, not robocops."
Barnes posted an 11-page memo during the weekend addressing concerns that have been brought up in recent department meetings. He said he wrote most of it before learning about the effort to unionize.
"Personally, I believe that once I'm aware of it, let's address it," he said.
In previous jobs, he said he has been a union member and even sat at the bargaining table.
"I'd prefer that things not go that way because I think it's easier to get things done when you don't have that extra step to go through," he said. "The relationship with the officers will survive either way quite well."
City Manager Steve Spina, who has recently gone on ride-alongs with officers, said he wasn't surprised by the news and doesn't plan to fight the effort.
"I think we'll just try to accommodate their needs and requests," he said. "(There's) no sense in fighting anything. I don't think this is something you need to take personally or anything; you just sit down and talk."
Barnes, who has been chief since November 2003, said he hopes the issues can be solved within the department.
"We're still learning to live with each other," he said. "It's still a new marriage."
--Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills. She can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com