Organizing our Comm Center

[pjfnme]

Hello. I'm looking for anyone with any ideas or insight on unionizing our police communications center. We are in a state that does not allow collective bargaining..however, all government departments in our city & county (county fire & police, city fire & police) are unionized except for us.
We are having a really hard time right now with unreasonable supervisors, ever changing policy & procedures (literally overnight changes!), a massive amount of forced overtime, refusal of management to allow us to take earned benefit time, etc. We all agree that we need a union and are already united in that cause..but, would like some opinions & ideas from any dispatcher who has already or is currently going, thru the process.
If anyone can provide anything...we would be very appreciative!!

Thanks!

[Daniel]

You don't mention the size of your agency but I'll assume you're fairly small as most comm centers are. You might speak to someone in the police union to see if they are interested in having you join with them. They should have a vested interest in your well being as you may be their only lifeline in some circumstances. In addition, by joining with a larger group who have common goals you have more leverage at the bargaining table.
Don't jump in with the first union that says they want to represent you. Make sure they have your interests at heart! Our center has always been members of the same union as our police members. When it was felt that our union was not representing us a few members rallied the membership and we separated to form our own union to represent ourselves. That was almost 12 years ago now and while not everything is perfect I do feel that we are miles ahead of where we were and we have our own interests at stake when we sit down with management. Good luck with your search.

[Relinda]

If you would like to send me an email I will give you some information. We are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police and are civilians. Most of the US have the FOP organization and our labor/legal defense is Nationwide.

Please contact me: broomrs@flcjn.net

Relinda Broom
Charlotte Co Sheriff Office
Punta Gorda, Fl

[MrJim911]

I'm hoping he has found a union in the 2 years since he has posted....