LYNNWOOD — A group of city employees was expected to move one step closer to forming a union March 10, but the meeting was canceled and hasn’t yet been rescheduled.
The state Public Employment Relations Commission had planned to meet with city officials to discuss the proposed union, which would include about 117 clerical, technical and professional workers.
The two sides are scheduled to talk about which jobs the union would represent, and about union elections.
The Washington State Council of County and City Employees would represent the workers if they vote to unionize, council organizing director Bill Keenan said.
Employees discussed forming a union in the past, but interest grew this year because non-union workers felt left out of city budget negotiations, Keenan said.
“The employees feel they don’t have a voice when it comes to the wages, benefits and conditions of employment that affect their jobs,” Keenan said. “They’re not asked their opinions, and there’s no process in place to give input to those matters.”
The city avoided major budget cuts this year, but some non-union employees are worried about future shortfalls and potential layoffs, he said.
The clerical, technical and professional workers are some of the last non-union employees in the city. Police, firefighters, public works and parks employees are unionized.
If non-represented employees decide to join a union, Mayor Mike McKinnon said he would support their decision.
“I’m in favor of whatever the employees decide is best for them,” he said.
If 30 percent of eligible employees sign union authorization cards, a union election would be held. If 70 percent or more employees sign authorization cards, no election would be needed and a union would be formed automatically, Keenan said.
About 70 percent of city employees in Washington are unionized, he said.
Katherine Schiffner is a reporter for the Herald in Everett.
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