NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3061 FAX 278-5959
COMMISSIONERS:
THOMAS JAY ELLIS ESQ., Chairman, JAMES R. MATTHEWS , RUTH S. DAMSKER
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY 01/13/06 PR#06-02
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT VOTES TO DISSOLVE
NORRISTOWN — Employees in Montgomery County’s court-related departments voted Friday to dissolve the union that had represented them for the past six years.
The non-supervisory employees in court-related offices voted 133-84 to discontinue representation by District Council 88 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. There were three challenged ballots and one ballot was voided because it was not clear how it had been cast.
"We’re pleased that the employees have made this decision," Montgomery County Communications Director John Corcoran said.
"Although unions serve an important function in some industries, we have always maintained that our employees don’t need union representation," Corcoran said. "We believe all of our employees receive a fair wage and superb benefits."
A petition from one of the union’s members to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board prompted the decertification vote.
The union’s three-year contract, which calls for members to receive the same raises and benefits as all other County employees, expired on Dec. 31, 2005. The union had proposed a new contract that would have required anyone eligible for membership to pay union dues.
The 244 members of the former bargaining unit are the non-supervisory employees of eight County departments: Sheriff, Prothonotary, Register of Wills, Clerk of Courts, District Attorney, Public Defender, Jury Board and Coroner.
