Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Jail workers jump on union bandwagon

They follow the lead of other deputies, stressing that they have no problem with the sheriff.

By THOMAS LAKE
Published July 9, 2006

Jail workers joined a massive international labor union Friday in a 96-50 vote that will let them bargain with Pasco County Sheriff Bob White over such issues as pay and job security.

The move follows similar overwhelming votes in March by the agency's patrol officers and their supervisors, meaning that all of the county's sworn deputies will get help in contract negotiations from the Fraternal Order of Police.

But union officials insisted the votes do not reflect worker discontent with White's leadership.

"They want to have a say in taking charge of their own destiny," said Ralph Dean, chairman of the order's Florida Labor Council. "It's not an adversarial situation."

Doug Tobin, a spokesman for the sheriff, said the agency would respect the workers' decision.

"The ultimate goal of serving the citizens will remain the same," he said.

In 2004, one year after the Florida Supreme Court gave sheriff's deputies the right to form collective bargaining units, White persuaded his employees to vote against joining a union.

At the time, his top spokesman said White thought he could do a better job looking out for the deputies' interests than separate labor unions could.

Now that is exactly what the agency has. The rank-and-file patrol deputies; the sergeants and lieutenants; and the detention deputies will each seek separate contracts.

Tobin said he expects formal talks to begin by the end of summer.

"We look forward to sitting down with Sheriff White and his negotiators," said James Preston, the Florida state president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

He also said:

"There's no beef with the sheriff at all."

Information from Times files was used in this report.

[Last modified July 8, 2006, 22:50:52]