Honesdale's Public Works Department wants to unionize. What happens next?

The seven members of the Honesdale Borough Public Works Department (DPW) have unanimously agreed to pursue joining a union. Subsequently, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board recognized a petition filed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM or Machinist Union) asking the DPW workers to vote to join the IAM.

DPW Director Joseph Rulis, who was hired in June, said that being unionized would be very advantageous for them. He said that they could negotiate better wages and insurance costs and receive more on-the-job training and legal protection from being fired. "Everything about it would be good," Rulis said. "It will help the borough too."

He said by having a contract with better wages and benefits, there would be less turnover, and the borough would know how to budget DPW payroll based on the contract.

He said that after he was hired, the DPW staff discussed joining a union following what he described as a "couple write-ups" workers judged as unfair, and complaints over wages.

Recognition of the petition by the state labor board is the first step for the Public Works employees to achieve their goal of respect and dignity in the workplace, said IAM Eastern Territory Special Representative Brent Coleman.

"We stand firmly behind the dedicated and essential employees of the Borough of Honesdale Public Works,” Coleman said. “Their determination to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions is commendable and aligns with our commitment to advocating for the rights of workers across Pennsylvania."

Borough Council President Michael Augello, at council's Sept. 18 meeting, replying to a question from DPW employee Frank Araujo, said that the borough did receive the official letter notifying council of DPW's intent to unionize. Augello said this was forwarded to the borough's labor law firm, Eckert Seamans.

Araujo asked if Augello or other council members had any opinion to share. "We cannot make comment on that. We must follow the process legally," Augello said. "I'm not going to make a personal opinion and I don't think anyone on council should either."

The IAM will participate in a preliminary conference call on Oct. 27 to hear any issues raised by Honesdale Borough, such as the bargaining unit's scope. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will hold an online hearing on Nov. 3 to address any issues, followed by the scheduling of an election.

Who can be in the union?

The borough objects to certain employees being allowed to be part of the union, including Rulis and two others whose positions are not under DPW, the parking meter employee and building maintenance employee, Coleman said. These objections will be part of the hearing.

Rulis is the "working lead" and should be included, Coleman said, although he said the council views him as having a supervisory role. Anyone that has the authority to hire, fire or discipline is not eligible to be part of the union, Coleman said. Although the borough view is that he falls in that category, Coleman stated, "Nothing that he provided to us shows that he does that. It is more or less that he is a working lead, he is out there performing the work alongside these guys."

Rulis said the council makes all the personnel decisions. Coleman stated that the council has Rulis sit in to listen to the qualifications and give input when the borough committee evaluates candidates for hire.

"I work right alongside these guys, so it's not that I don't actually do the physical work with them," Rulis said of the DPW crew. "How are they going to exclude me from the union when I am one of them? I tell them what jobs need to be done and we go do them, but I don't hire these people ... fire these people, I can't even write these people up. The borough manager has to write them up if they are being disciplined."

Asked about this, Augello reaffirmed that he is not able to comment.

Rulis noted the borough would have to use taxpayer money to pay the legal fees to be represented at the hearing in making these objections.

The Machinist Union represents the workers at the hearing. IAM members pay dues which cover the expenses of the Machinist Union, part of which is for legal representation at hearings.

What comes next in the unionization process?

The workers signed authorization cards indicating their interest in unionizing. The cards were first submitted through the borough, which had an opportunity to recognize them. Since the council objected to some, it must go to the state board. The Machinist Union turned the cards over to the state board, which sent the letter to the borough.

The election is by secret ballot. The outcome must be at least 50% plus one in favor for the group to become unionized.

Newly unionized employees and their employer would negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. An IAM representative would negotiate on behalf of the workers. "It dictates wage increases, benefits, certain work rules, all those sorts of things that are provided to stabilize the position for the workers," Coleman said. The agreement is typically in place two or three years.

"Everyone there definitely would like a clear pathway to wage and benefit increases, stability in the job, a voice in the workplace. They are very motivated, and we have a very high showing of interest," Coleman said.

"It is the workers' legal right to have a union in their workplace," Coleman said. There is no cost to the workers seeking to be unionized to go before the labor board, he said.

As of Aug. 31, the DPW department included Rulis, Araujo, Mark Daniels, William Corcoran, Roger Kenyon, Doug Gombert and Skip Seitz. Among Honesdale DPW's responsibilities are the care of borough streets, six parks and the borough pool complex.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale Borough Public Works employees seek to join Machinist Union