Deputies review union possibilities

Some of the reasons to organize could be to bargain for higher salaries and have representation on disciplinary matters.

By TAMARA LUSH

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 17, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Encouraged by a recent state Supreme Court ruling, Pasco sheriff's deputies discussed Wednesday night whether to organize a union.

Lt. Frank Layton, lodge president of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, said a Jan. 13 state Supreme Court decision has opened the door for sheriff's deputies in Florida to form unions.

Some attorneys, however, say the ruling is ambiguous when it comes to sheriff's deputies.

In 1978, the court banned deputies from unionizing, saying sheriff's deputies were appointees. But the recent case -- brought by an Orange County deputy clerk of court who said she was fired because she tried to organize a union -- mentioned sheriff's deputies.

The court ruled that clerks have the right to organize and discussed the status of deputies in the ruling. The court said deputies are "public employees," not appointees.

The Pasco chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, which is a social organization for deputies, has about 400 members, said Layton. He expected a large turnout for Wednesday night's meeting because of the union discussion.

Representatives from the state Fraternal Order of Police were scheduled to attend the meeting to discuss the benefits of forming a union. Some of the reasons to unionize would be to bargain for higher salaries and have representation on disciplinary matters, Layton said.

If the members vote to take the next step to organize, it will still take months, even years, to formally become a union.

"It doesn't happen overnight," Layton said. "This is a learning process to me -- this is all new."

-- Information from Times files was used in this report.

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