Representatives of local organized labor recently began collecting signatures from building trades members in the hopes of unionizing county workers.

Currently, approximately 1,400 signatures have been collected. While there has not been a set amount of signatures to acquire, according to Chet Fincher, a trustee of the building trades, the hope is to present an extensive list to the Howard County Commissioners in November.

“Ultimately, just pass the ordinance. Leave it up to the (county) workers. If workers decide to vote and decide not to unionize, it’s in the workers’ hands. That’s what they all were asking. Let the workers decide where they want to be at, if they want to be part of a union. If they vote no, they vote no,” Fincher said.

The proposed ordinance, pushed primarily by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 2185, the organization representing city of Kokomo workers, would allow for collective bargaining by Howard County employee if passed. If the commissioners vote to allow the workers to unionize, this does not mean the issue is finalized but would allow for an organizing drive.

The issue was introduced in March of last year. The following September, commissioners made it clear they didn’t intend to bring a proposed ordinance, carrying with it the ability for county workers to unionize, to a vote. Commissioners cited a lack of employee interest in their decision.

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According to Fincher, unionization is the way workers can get what they want. It allows them a bigger voice on issues, better working conditions, better benefits, and the ability to bargain issues.

Often when unions go to the table and bargain, Fincher said, it’s typically over wages and benefits. However, one could bargain issues such as maternity/paternity leave, overtime pay, or break times. Additionally, issues such as a clothing allowance can be negotiated for the contractor to provide safety gear.

“That’s actually a big one for public employees. Some of them get an allowance, but an allowance isn’t enough to cover all the work boots, safety boots, gloves. They have to wear a special pair of pants if they’re trimming trees along the side of the road, a lot of the lineman crews, lineman union, [and] public-sector unions,” Fincher said.

The more people on board, the more voice and power one has, according to Fincher. If an individual works for a contractor or for a county that’s hostile to its workers, then people begin wanting to unionize, he said.

This time, Fincher is optimistic that the proposed ordinance will pass.

“Yeah, I think it’ll work this time. The building trades position is to leave it up to the workers. No matter what you are, whether you’re a hotel worker or city worker or county worker, working non-union construction, union construction, anything, leave it up to the workers; let the workers decide. We completely understand workers can’t do it without the employers. Employers definitely can’t do it without the workers either. So, it has to be coming together,” Fincher said.