Charles Workers Meet With Organizers

County Officials Say Union Not Needed

Organizers from a prominent labor union met with a group of Charles County employees this week as part of a fledgling effort to unionize county government workers.

Three representatives from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers heard a litany of complaints from workers about the county's top leaders, particularly County Commissioners President Wayne Cooper (D) and County Administrator Paul W. Comfort.

Concerns were expressed about the abrupt resignations of several popular department heads, the elimination of flex-time scheduling and about whether Comfort considers county employees' needs when making decisions.

"These gentlemen see themselves as so far above us that we need some kind of tool to even get their attention," said a county employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from supervisors.

Comfort and the commissioners said that they think a union, representing the county's 700 workers, would bring a "middle man" into discussions that are best conducted one-on-one. In a letter sent to employees last week, Comfort said all county staff members have direct access to their supervisors under the current arrangement.

"We would regret losing this ability to allow employees of all ranks to interact with the highest levels of County Government," Comfort wrote.

County commissioners agreed that employees should talk to them directly, not through a union.

"I don't think we're closed to the idea of talking to our employees," said Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II. "I think that's absurd."

But several employees at the meeting said they do not think they have access to Comfort and other leaders. Three employees said they were unaware of the open lunch meetings that Comfort's letter said he conducts monthly.

"I don't trust any statement they make about wanting to hear our concerns," said an employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "There is no open-door policy."

Discussion of unionizing county employees surfaced in postings on Delusional Duck, a Charles-based blog that is widely read by county employees. Workers said they began considering the possibility in February of last year, when the commissioners announced the elimination of several employee benefits, including casual dress on Fridays, the ability to drive county cars to and from work and flex-time options, which allowed employees to work overtime in exchange for days off.

About six weeks after the changes were announced, Comfort was hired to replace Roy E. Hancock, who had served as interim county administrator for more than two years. Soon after Comfort moved from Queen Anne's County to Charles, an exodus of department heads began. Sixteen senior staff members have left county government in the past 14 months.