Oldsmar employees vote to end union affiliation

City administrators applaud the decision to decertify the union, saying it will lead to improved relationships with their workers.

By ED QUIOCO

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 1, 2000

OLDSMAR -- City employees voted to dump their union in an election Tuesday, and management says that is a sign the majority of workers are satisfied.

Faced with the ballot question, "Do you want to be represented by a collective bargaining agent?" 22 employees voted no and 14 voted yes.

If no one contests the votes, the results will be certified 15 days after the election by the state Public Employees Relations Commission.

If the results remain, the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO will be decertified after representing city workers in Oldsmar since 1989.

"Having a bargaining unit is a pretty formal relationship," said Marnie Burns, Oldsmar's director of administrative services-assistant city manager. "Going forward, we can have more flexibility and a better relationship because of this."

About 50 Oldsmar workers originally joined the union with more than half paying the membership dues. But before the election, the union had only three dues-paying members. Out of the city's about 100 employees, 48 are eligible to join the union.

The election was held at the council chambers on State Street despite the objections of Stephen Sarnoff, the union's local president. Sarnoff objected to having an on-site election because it "gives the employer the opportunity to directly influence the outcome," according to a letter sent to the city signed by Sarnoff.

Sarnoff proposed a mail ballot election, but the request was denied by the Public Employees Relations Commission.

"A unit this size is eligible for a mail ballot election and we feel that the rights of the bargaining unit members would be better served by allowing them the opportunity to participate from the safety and comfort of their homes not the workplace," the letter said.

Mervin Robeson, who works at the wastewater treatment plant, started the petition to decertify the union. When he was able to get enough signatures, that paved the way for a formal vote.

Burns said the election was a good sign of employee relations in the city.

"From management's perspective, we are happy with the outcome," Burns said.

- Staff writer Ed Quioco can be reached at (727) 445-4183 or quioco@sptimes.com

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