Labor & Employment Law

Political Action Pays Off for State Workers in Kentucky and Tennessee

By James Parks

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear signs two negotiated union agreements covering 9,000 satte corrections and social service workers.

State employees in Kentucky and Tennessee received early holiday gifts last month: historic new agreements with their employers. In both cases, political action was at the core of the victories.

In Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who was elected with strong union support, signed two agreements with  AFSCME Council 62–their first-ever union contracts.

The agreements cover some 5,000 corrections employees who work in prisons and related facilities, including probation and parole and juvenile justice employees and nearly 4,000 social service employees, including family case workers and managers and social workers.

“This is a tremendous step in building a strong union,” says David Warrick, executive director of Council 62. 

As state employees, we now have written rules and rights that cannot be changed unilaterally on any given day at the whim of management. This agreement lays a solid foundation for expanding those rights for years to come.

Kentucky state workers do not currently have collective bargaining rights and cannot negotiate wages, benefits and working conditions. But under the new agreements, workers can be represented by a union steward in grievance procedures and in meetings with management that could lead to disciplinary actions. The agreement also establishes a new labor-management process that allows workers to bring up issues and concerns outside the grievance procedures.

Beshear signed an executive order in 2008 restoring state employees’ right to union representation. Former Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher had revoked that right in his first act in office in 2003.

In Warburg, Tenn., some 400 corrections officers and employees at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, members of AFSCME Local 2173, are celebrating a recent agreement that provides seniority bidding in all areas of the facility. State Corrections Commissioner Gayle Ray signed a memorandum of understanding with the union over objections of the former prison warden, who was promoted to deputy commissioner this year.

Local 2173 President Bill Shillings says the agreement means corrections officers and employees may now choose their preferred work shifts, days off and job assignments according to tenure.

It’s all about getting a fair shake and having dignity on the job.

Local members phoned and visited state representatives, who then urged state correction officials to act promptly.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on December 17, 2010 (boomark / email).