If Oxford’s full-time firefighters want to be represented by a union, they’re going to have to vote on it.
Last week, the township board voted 6-1 to not grant voluntary recognition of the International Association of Fire Fighters as the collective bargaining representative for the department’s 12 career firefighters.
This action will require the full-time firefighters, a majority of which petitioned for representation, to have a secret ballot vote amongst themselves on the issue of unionization.
The vote, which hasn’t been scheduled yet, would be conducted by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
Supervisor Bill Dunn indicated he wants to give everyone some time to think it over, learn more, then make an informed vote.
Trustee Sue Bellairs agreed.
‘I don’t have a problem with what anybody wants to do, but . . . these things have come up before in the past and it would only be fair to make sure that everybody has a legitimate vote,? she said.
The township board is expected to decide at its July 8 meeting as to whether it wants the union vote to include just the full-time personnel or paid-on-call and career firefighters together.
Firefighter Darin Balinski, who served as the full-time staff’s spokesperson at the meeting, presented township officials with a document, signed by 23 of the department’s 28 active paid-on-call members, indicating they do not wish to be part of a union.
When the union issue first came up in 2003, officials back then wanted the paid-on-call members to be given the opportunity to be collectively represented as well. After that, the whole issue died on its own.
Township resident Dave Potter spoke in support of the current unionization effort.
‘They do a pretty tough job,? he said. ‘I don’t have a problem with people if they’d like to organize.?
Given he’s a Birmingham city police officer and union member, Trustee Joe Bunting had the most to say about the topic.
‘My view is it’s always fair to have some type of representation,? he said.
The question is, according to the trustee, is a union the right form of representation for Oxford’s firefighters?
‘If that’s the only way that you guys feel you can operate, then that tells me there’s a lot of internal problems,? Bunting said.
The trustee indicated he’s spent the last few months talking with firefighters, command officers and township board members. He’s willing to get involved to help resolve any issues that may exist within the department.
‘My consensus is if the majority have problems that lie (internally), then we can work together and solve those problems,? Bunting said. ‘If we can fix things without having to look at unionization, I am 100 percent for that. I’ll guarantee I’ll work with you, with the fire chief and the board here to make it go smoothly.?
‘If that’s not possible, then I don’t object to unionization because I think everybody has a right to representation,? he noted.
A June 14 e-mail signed by ‘the pro-union career firefighters? and sent to all township board members following last week’s meeting indicated a union contract would benefit both fire personnel and the municipality.
‘A union contract sets expectations and rules for the employer and the employee,? the e-mail stated. ‘It puts all employees on a level playing field, providing fair treatment and preventing any favoritism. Unionizing will not hurt the township. In fact, it will benefit Oxford in projecting future costs and will create a more stable work environment for employer and employee.?
The e-mail also let township officials know the career firefighters are not seeking union representation as a way to increase their pay.
‘Economically, we are not seeking to achieve anything other than what we currently are receiving,? the message said. ‘We understand the economic times that everyone is experiencing and definitely do not seek to place an undue burden on the township.?
Bunting made it clear that unionization is not a panacea. For those firefighters who believe union representation will give them job security, he warned that’s not the case.
‘There’s no job security anywhere you go,? he said. ‘You can get laid off. You can get fired. So, there’s no job security guarantee. I go to work everyday and I don’t know if my job’s going to be there. That’s just the name of the game when you’re . . . working in the public sector or private sector.?
For those firefighters who believe a union will bring them better health care benefits or higher wages, Bunting indicated they could actually end up with less then they currently have.
‘Could forming a union (cause firefighters to) lose a lot of the things you have right now? Absolutely, 100 percent,? he said. ‘Unionizing can open Pandora’s boxes for those that want to do it. You may have a lot of nice things right now and you could have the opportunity to lose those nice things. That’s something you really need to think about.?
One thing Bunting made clear is that he doesn’t want any fire employees coming to work afraid of each other or their bosses.
‘I don’t want anybody to have any problems,? he said. ‘Anybody that feels they’re going to work with fear in them because they’re going to get bullied ? that’s not going to happen here and I’ll make sure of that. No one is going to have to work in an environment like that.?
Dunn agreed and stated that his office is always a safe place for anyone who has an issue and wants to discuss it confidentially.
‘I’ve done it before and I can make problems go away,? he said. ‘I don’t have any buddies over there at the fire department. I’m going to treat you all the same.?