By C1 Staff
FRESNO, Calif. — The Fresno County Service Employees International Union is looking to narrow the number of employees eligible to vote in an upcoming election.
The Fresno Bee reports that members of SEIU’s bargaining unit 02 has been trying to decertify union representation for correctional officers in the Fresno County Jail and juvenile justice center, as well as security, child support officers and program technicians.
The union has filed a petition with the Fresno County Civil Service Commission that could narrow decertification voting to Fresno County Jail corrections officers, less than half the bargaining unit.
This is the third decertification effort in three years for the bargaining unit’s employees, an effort led by correctional officers.
Union officials say that if correctional officers want to leave SEIU, they should vote without forcing their decision on employees in other county departments.
One correctional officer, Eulalio Gomez, said union officials initiated the process and that the largest contingent of workers supporting decertification is jail workers. He still wants all employees in the bargaining unit to vote.