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Moves By 2 Local Government Unions Give Bargaining Units Bad Name

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2007

There's a lot to respect about the more than 40-year right of local and state government employees in Florida to form unions.

Workers shouldn't be denied that opportunity simply because they are government employees, though the prohibition against striking is needed for obvious reasons. Like millions of other workers, they should be able to organize themselves to bargain for better pay and working conditions, and be represented in grievances, among other benefits of collective bargaining.

Too often, however, government employee unions forget who they work for, and they get so carried away with their bargaining power that they give the appearance of being spoiled children. Two examples of this occurred recently with government worker unions in Pasco County.

A few months ago, the union representing Pasco County school employees cried foul when Superintendent Heather Fiorentino notified workers that they may be needed to staff emergency evacuation shelters if not enough volunteers, who usually provide staffing, are available.

State law clearly requires school districts to provide shelters for hurricanes and other emergencies and staff them. Fiorentino was merely alerting workers to the possibility.

Instead of being team players and recognizing that members are, indeed, government workers, the union filed an unfair labor practice charge.

A couple of weeks ago, a hearing officer ruled for Fiorentino and recommended the Florida Public Employees Relation Commission dismiss the charge.

What did the union do? It announced it will appeal.
Union leadership obviously needs a course in public relations and a stern reminder that members are public workers who must do as they're told - and as the law requires. Who wouldn't want to help in times of emergency?

Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police, which is at an impasse with Sheriff Bob White over several employee union issues, has gotten too personal.

The FOP's local, state and national leaders wrote Gov. Charlie Crist to oppose White's bid for a seat on the state's Task Force for the Remediation of Illicit Drug Labs. The leadership, in essence, cried that White wasn't deserving of a spot because he hasn't given in to union demands.

"Our organization believes firmly that Sheriff White does not support his deputies' efforts," state present James Preston wrote in one letter. "Therefore, I cannot endorse Sheriff White for any appointments or positions by Governor Crist."

It was a low blow and absurd to connect the two. Never mind that White has fought the county for better pay for deputies and more manpower to relieve the stress on current workers. Never mind that White has about 30 years' experience in law enforcement, including serving as sheriff for seven years in a county with more than its share of meth labs.

The union's histrionics are appalling. It placed its dissatisfaction about the impasse with White over the selection of a qualified applicant to a committee that will seek to rid communities of a tremendous public health and safety threat. Fortunately, Crist didn't let the criticism sway him and appointed White, a fellow Republican.

With the way the FOP and the school employees' union has been acting lately, it's probably a good thing that the public has no say in whether they can continue their units. Both need to be more professionally respectful of the public - their employers.

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