Two Northeastern-based unions are trying to oust Montgomery County’s government employees union, The Washington Examiner has learned.
The United Public Service Employees Union and National Correctional Employees Union are inundating the e-mail boxes of correctional and municipal employees, telling them to ditch their representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1994. The newcomers are pointing to upcoming worker furloughs and the loss of cost-of-living increases, according to e-mails obtained by The Examiner.
“People are very dissatisfied because there is no hands-on representation,” said Kevin Boyle Jr., UPSEU president. “People have complained about taking a freeze last year and not getting anything for it — and now are sitting here having to deal with furloughs.”
The County Council decided to stop honoring so-called “phantom” cost-of-living increases this year, promised to employees as a way to offset salary freezes.
And non-school county employees will take between three and eight days of furloughs, depending on salary.
However, as The Examiner first reported, cops and municipal employees are set to receive more than three additional days of leave next year to offset the loss in perks, with firefighters slated for 48 more hours in paid time off.
And top officials with the Municipal County Government Employees Organization say they were able to salvage what could have been a disastrous year for members.
“As we have since 1986, we will continue to serve our more than 8,000 Montgomery County members,” said Gail Heath, special assistant to the group’s president. “Our record stands on its own.”
It continues a rough month for the county union. The group’s president, Gino Renne, is on leave while awaiting trial on charge that he assaulted his wife.
Boyle said county employees could vote this fall on changing union representation.
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Firefighters squash random drug testing
Montgomery County officials have agreed to stop giving random drug tests to firefighters, according to bargaining documents. Like municipal employees and most public safety officials, firefighters will be tested only with cause, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said. John Sparks, president of the firefighters union, says members will still be tested during annual physicals and when involved in accidents. — Brian Hughes
