Corrections Staff Might Swap Unions Teamsters Courting Workers Unhappy With Status Quo

Washington State Department of Corrections employees, numbering nearly 4,000, may be in the market again for new union representation.

Their extended contract through the Washington Public Employees Association expires in November and some workers say they’re unhappy with the wages, working conditions and benefits the union has gotten them.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is courting the DOC workers, including those at the Walla Walla penitentiary and the Airway Heights Corrections Center.

“Walla Walla was very receptive,” said Joni Mason, a Teamster representative who visited penitentiary employees this week. “They’re ready for a change. The morale is deplorable.”

Mason has not yet met with the 450 DOC employees at Airway Heights.

This isn’t the Teamsters’ first attempt to represent the second-largest public employee bargaining unit in the state. In the late 1980’s, the union tried, but didn’t win a majority. Other unions have also tried to become the employees’ bargaining representative.

Washington DOC workers have attempted to find new union affiliations several times in the past two decades.

“They’ve had a number of decertification attempts,” said Karl Nagle, manager of employee relations and the hearings unit of the Washington State Department of Personnel. “Given the history of this unit, it’s probably one of the more volatile.”

According to the WPEA, negotiations continued this week on the contract due to expire in November. If the workers find the results displeasing, it could mean the end of continued membership.

“It sets up the time period that another union can come in and call for an election,” Nagle said. “It’s a very attractive unit.”

At the same time, state officials negotiating the contract might find dealing with WPEA demands preferable to facing the Teamsters over the bargaining table.

Before corrections officers can change unions, a number must sign union authorization cards showing they want to change.

“They have to have 30 percent of the bargaining unit express an interest in having (the new union) be a representative,” Nagle said. “Then they’ll have an election.”

Though the Teamsters say authorization cards are being distributed, so far Nagle’s office hasn’t received any.

, DataTimes