Police Benevolent Association in Corrections
The Florida Department of Corrections has gone through a turbulent era in the past ten years concerning labor representation for its workers. There are numerous reasons this rollercoaster and several will be highlighted. One very important consideration in Florida, is that it is both an “At-Will” and a “Right to Work” State. These terms may sound favorable at first, but have serious connotations. An “At Will” state means that your employer can, through no fault of your own, without no reason, terminate your employment, at any given time without penalties or repercussions. “Right to Work” basically means that your job can’t be affected upon your decision to join, or refuse to join, a labor union. …show more content…
Due to failed leadership and the union being perceived by the workers as ineffective, the Teamster’s Union made a successful bid to over throw the PBA in 2011, when the workers voted to go in a different direction with different representation. The Unions however, only represent the Correctional and Probation Officers who are a fraction of the workers within the Florida Department of Corrections. This small representation limits the individuals that any bargaining would apply towards, within the whole organization. Therefore, limiting the numbers of potential voter …show more content…
However, in five years the Teamsters did little to nothing to gain the confidence of the workers, or reap any favorable concessions. The Teamster’s fragmented by an upstart fringe of dis-satisfied correctional workers both in the officer and probation fields and were successful in gaining a vote to splinter from the national organization of Teamsters. The Teamster’s United was born and was making great strides at bargaining and gaining media attention. This however was short lived and they were voted out in a month by the Police Benevolent Association who campaigned to overthrow the Teamster’s United with promises of gaining the workers a
The Florida Department of Corrections has gone through a turbulent era in the past ten years concerning labor representation for its workers. There are numerous reasons this rollercoaster and several will be highlighted. One very important consideration in Florida, is that it is both an “At-Will” and a “Right to Work” State. These terms may sound favorable at first, but have serious connotations. An “At Will” state means that your employer can, through no fault of your own, without no reason, terminate your employment, at any given time without penalties or repercussions. “Right to Work” basically means that your job can’t be affected upon your decision to join, or refuse to join, a labor union. …show more content…
Due to failed leadership and the union being perceived by the workers as ineffective, the Teamster’s Union made a successful bid to over throw the PBA in 2011, when the workers voted to go in a different direction with different representation. The Unions however, only represent the Correctional and Probation Officers who are a fraction of the workers within the Florida Department of Corrections. This small representation limits the individuals that any bargaining would apply towards, within the whole organization. Therefore, limiting the numbers of potential voter …show more content…
However, in five years the Teamsters did little to nothing to gain the confidence of the workers, or reap any favorable concessions. The Teamster’s fragmented by an upstart fringe of dis-satisfied correctional workers both in the officer and probation fields and were successful in gaining a vote to splinter from the national organization of Teamsters. The Teamster’s United was born and was making great strides at bargaining and gaining media attention. This however was short lived and they were voted out in a month by the Police Benevolent Association who campaigned to overthrow the Teamster’s United with promises of gaining the workers a