|
Wednesday February 6,2008
Sheriff's employees seek unionizing vote
By NICK BONHAM
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
The union representing Pueblo County Sheriff's Department deputies and
employees voted Monday to pursue a collective bargaining ordinance
with the county.
Local Chapter No. 7 of the Pueblo
Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police announced that 152 of 154 members
voted in favor of the proposal. Mike Violette,
executive director of the state FOP labor council, said he plans to
present the draft ordinance to county commissioners in coming weeks,
with the request that it be referred to voters in a special election,
possibly in August during the presidential primary.
"The union has no issues with the current sheriff or his staff,"
Violette said in a prepared statement. "It is the system that has been
in place for many years that has brought the employees to this
decision." "The system has been broken for a while,"
said Sgt. Tommie McLallen, president of the union. "Health insurance
is rising . . . our pay scale is pretty outdated. We understand that
the pie is only so big, but we want to sit down and have an equal
voice with the county." McLallen said the union
would work for a contract that would be reasonable to employees and to
taxpayers. The ordinance will also include "fair and
equitable treatment" during disciplinary actions and internal
investigations. If the ordinance doesn't go to voters, deputy Jason
Guagliardo, vice president of the union, said the union can petition
the community and get the matter placed on the ballot.
The union formed in July and consists of 202 members, including
officers from the rank of lieutenant to civilians.. |
