Hot on the heels of the Milton Highway Department’s decision to unionize, Ballston Highway Department Superintendent Joe Whalen notified Town Supervisor Patti Southworth in November of his department’s intent to unionize.
Although the Town Board acknowledged that notice, it has taken several weeks to hammer out the details of the process. The board on Tuesday, Dec. 4, voted to recognize the Teamsters Union as the negotiator for the Highway Department after going in to executive session to discuss the matter.
There had been disagreement between Town Supervisor Patti Southworth and Councilman Bill Goslin over the matter. Southworth had said she was under the impression members of the department were dissatisfied with the highway budget for 2013.
“It was after budget workshops when we changed some of the funding that they had concerns and that’s why they actually decided to unionize,” said Southworth at a Nov. 27 Town Board meeting.
“I think that we have a great Highway Department, I think all of us know that and acknowledged that and I’m sure we’ll be able to work through that process, just as we normally would.”
Goslin, however, said he believed the reason the department was unionizing was concern over job security.
“I met with every town highway personnel and I went over the budget with them and I find it very hard to believe that the primary reason for joining the union is because of the way we decided to fund their highway equipment,” said Goslin.
Now that the Teamsters have been recognized, the next step in the process will be to set up a negotiating team and set a schedule for negotiations, according to Southworth.
“It is my understanding under section 63 of town law that I would set up the negotiating committee,” she said, adding that might be ready by the Wednesday, Dec. 12, Town Board meeting.
“I intend to go into this in good faith,” Southworth added. “It is my understanding with the members of the Highway Department that they just want to ratify what they already have and they will be negotiating in good faith.”
The full Town Board will have to vote on the labor agreement that the committee and the labor representative arrive at, but Southworth reiterated her belief the negotiations will be amicable.
“We have a good group of guys,” she said. “They are reasonable and they work hard.”
The Town Board entered into executive session on Dec. 4 to discuss the situation. Under the state’s open meetings law, a board can only enter into executive session for a specific list of reasons. One of them is for contract negotiations, but the topic of a contract has not yet been broached. Southworth voted against going into the executive session for this reason, but the four other board members were in favor of it.
Town Attorney Murry Brower said the executive session is legal as long as contract negotiations were mentioned.
“We are not doing contract negotiations, it’s just recognizing the Teamsters,” said Southworth.
“I think it’s connected, to some extent,” replied Brower.