DPS Union Vote Draws Complaint

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.thehoya.com/node/18949

DPS Decides to Remain With Allied International Union
By * Brian Burke

May 14 2009

* Crime and Safety

A police officers’ union has filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board regarding the university’s handling of a vote to determine the Department of Public Safety’s labor representation.

Department of Public Safety officers voted last Friday to continue to be represented by Allied International Union. The United Security and Police Officers of America, the losing union, has filed objections to the handling of the vote while at least one DPS officer has accused Georgetown administrators of manipulating the vote.

Mark Baptiste-Kalaris, resident officer of the D.C. office of the National Labor Relations Board, said that 35 ballots were cast for Allied International, 24 were cast for USPOA, and one was cast for no union. He said there were about 67 eligible voters.

The vote, which applies to main campus and Law Center officers, came as DPS officers prepare to negotiate a new contract with the university. The current contract expires in August, according to DPS Communication Officer Victor Johnson, one of the force’s union representatives.

A Law Center officer, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being fired, said university administrators pressured officers to vote to stay with Allied, which has represented DPS for 33 years.
“Officers felt they were being coerced into voting for Allied,” the officer said. “They’re scared of losing their jobs.”

The officer said that prior to the union vote, Law Center Dean and Executive Vice President T. Alexander Aleinikoff wrote a letter praising Allied to DPS officers and that Georgetown Department of Human Resources employees met with officers before the vote and seemed to favor Allied in their discussions.

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