By Ramona Giwargis
Merced Sun-Star
MERCED COUNTY — Merced County’s correctional officers may have another union to choose from when they vote for representation later this year, based on action taken at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
County supervisors voted unanimously to allow a new employee union, called the Merced County Sheriff Correction Officers Association, to register as an employee organization for the workers.
“It’s just part of the process where they’re recognized as a registered organization to possibly represent employees for the future,” said County Executive Officer Jim Brown about Tuesday’s vote.
The process requires employee organizations to file a request to represent county workers, as outlined in the county’s Employer-Employee Relations Policy.
Correctional officers and security system operators are currently represented by the Merced County Sheriff Employees Association, which is affiliated with the Teamsters. The union represents 75 members, according to MCSEA President Chris Navarro.
But officials say the MCSEA will soon cease to exist and the organization will be run entirely by Teamsters, which Navarro said will strengthen representation for the employees.
“The true benefit is you have professionals handling everything for you instead of an employee association trying to handle issues,” Navarro said. “MCSEA is in search of a better model of representation, and that means we’re going to become full Teamsters.”
John Hendon, a correctional officer for the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, said Tuesday a number of officers have been experiencing “conflicts and issues” under the MCSEA’s representation.
“We kind of feel like they’re not representing us all in the best interest of everyone, and we want the opportunity to make some changes for the future,” Hendon said during Tuesday’s meeting.
“We’ve been told that MCSEA is trying to transfer over to direct Teamsters, and a lot of officers have some conflict with that,” Hendon added. “And the only way we can do any type of decision is to have a third option.”
Hendon submitted an email listing officer complaints about MCSEA to the board Tuesday. The paperwork to register the new employee organization was filed by Hendon, according to county officials.
Hendon could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Navarro said he had heard rumors about a new organization being formed, but tried to resolve employee issues whenever they were brought to his attention.
“I understood that some members may have been unhappy because of rumors, but they never came to me for assistance because I would have tried my best to help them,” Navarro said. “If an officer comes to me with an issue or complaint, I do my best to resolve it.”
District 4 Supervisor and Board Chairwoman Deidre Kelsey said Tuesday afternoon she hadn’t reviewed the list of complaints submitted by Hendon, but said she’s familiar with past concerns from correctional officers.
The union has been in negotiations with the county for nearly two years, Kelsey said, and some officers have complained that they’re not being kept informed on the progress of those negotiations.
“What they’re attempting to do is try to get more people to vote on who will represent them at the bargaining table,” Kelsey said. “They’re trying to provide choices and not have it happen by default.”
Deputy Delray Shelton, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, was asked about the issue Tuesday, but said he could not elaborate on details.
MCSEA’s contract to represent the correctional officers and other staff ends in June. The deadline for employee organizations to register with Human Resources to represent the workers is this month.
A vote by union members is expected later this year.