Union leaders for one fifth of Hillsborough County employees negotiate rights for workers listen

Tags: AFSCME, Hillsborough County, labor, unions

Union leaders for many Hillsborough County employees want to change the process by which employees are disciplined. Negotiations on behalf of those employees continued with county management this morning.

One fifth of Hillsborough County employees are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME. Union leaders want to include language in the employment contract that would clarify and guarantee the rights of those employees to have union representation during an investigative interview. The county feels it’s unnecessary to add to the contract because it’s already in policy.

Union leaders are also requesting that county protocol for dealing with grievances filed by employees mirror the standards union representatives are held to. That would require county staff to respond in a timelier manner.

Helene Marks, chief administrative officer for Hillsborough County agreed in principle with a union request that would give employees two extra days to file a grievance.

Due to ongoing negotiations AFSCME’s regional director, Hector Ramos, would not comment. Marks and other county staff declined to be interviewed. The next round of negotiations will be on January 20.