In response to the numerous and unsettling workplace changes enforced by the Charles County Commissioners and their administration in the past two years, some employees at Charles County Government recently used their lunch time to discuss with co-workers the possibility of unionizing. The positive and supportive response from numerous employees was overwhelming. Several staff, including managers, voiced concerns of losing their jobs to outsourcing and layoffs, having their benefits reduced, and overall low moral issues.
Upon learning of these union discussions, the County Administrator published an anti-union response article (copy attached) in his “Official Word” column of the employee newsletter. The Director of Human Resources was observed hand delivering this response on commissioner letterhead to at least two employees and making the statement, “You are to cease and desist immediately any actions contained in this letter.” Then the same letters were sent to all employees with their paychecks the following day.

Out of respect to the residents of Charles County and employees of the Charles County government, there was and will be no use of county time, or resources, and no discussions about unionizing employees will be done on Charles County property. We don’t believe anyone was aware that the First Amendment - Right of Free Speech does not apply to Charles County owned property.

Seeing the administration used numerous county resources (computers, printer, paper, the employee newsletter, county time, other county employees, and the county’s email system) during working hours on county property to distribute anti-union rhetoric, It is hoped this administration, too, will cease and desist of utilizing any further county resources for any anti-union campaigning out of respect for the residents and employees of the Charles County government.

There are numerous local entities, such as Charles County Public Schools, the Sheriff’s Office, Prince Georges County Government, SMECO, etc., that have unions. The employees of Charles County government deserve the respect of deciding for themselves whether a union could benefit them. These are intelligent capable people. It is respectfully requested that this administration let the employees democratically decide for themselves without fear of persecution whether they do or do not want to join a union.

If you are a Charles County government employee and wish to learn more about your rights to unionize, what the union can do to benefit you, voice your questions/concerns, please attend a lunch information session with union representatives scheduled at Ledo’s in La Plata on Tuesday, 7/15/08 @ 12noon. Employees should only use their approved lunch time to attend. We will plan an evening session for those who are unable to attend during lunch. The date, place and time of the evening session will be determined at a later date and publicly published.

And the letter (which was on County letterhead):
June 30, 2008

Dear County Employee:

Some literature has recently been distributed on county property discussing possible union organizing of
the employees of various departments of county government. While I understand efforts along these lines, I felt I
should reiterate the County’s position that the current employee/employer relationship structure is the most
beneficial to both employees and the County.

As County Administrator, I am proud of my current relationship with County employees, a relationship
where employees and all levels of management enjoy direct communications. Employees can freely take
advantage of management’s “open door” policy, which includes the Commissioners’ Office, my office and
Human Resources. The current relationship provides an open dialog forum with employees, which I facilitate at
my monthly “Lunch with the County Administrator” meetings. During my first year here with Charles County
Government, I have held about two such events at each of our eight Departments. Additionally at my quarterly
management meetings, I include 3 to 4 levels of managers, in some cases this also includes line supervisors.
Discussions at these meetings allow supervisors to openly discuss employee issues, sometimes directly with the
County Commissioners who attend the meeting.

We would regret losing this ability to allow employees of all ranks to interact with the highest levels of
County Government. Since this relationship is so important and has proven effective over the years, the County
Commissioners will not be enacting the required legislation to enable County employees to organize and
communicate through a designated third party. Please remember that current county policy generally prohibits
solicitation on county property and non-work related activities by employees on county time (which would
include union organizing activities).

The County Commissioners and I continue to learn and understand employee concerns across all
departments and look forward to continuing our positive interactions with county employees. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Paul W. Comfort, Esq.
County Administrator

“Celebrating 350 Years”
1658 -2008

SAY NO TO DRUGS -EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COUNTY

We would regret losing this ability to allow employees of all ranks to interact with the highest levels of County Government. Since this relationship is so important and has proven effective over the years, the County Commissioners will not be enacting the required legislation to enable County employees to organize and communicate through a designated third party.

So let me get this straight, Paul Comfort and the Commissioners want to communicate with the employees so much that they’re cutting off the employees’ ability to communicate through a means some employees want?

Unions are an absolute JOKE!!!!! Look, the current administrators are a bunch of buffoons but trying to form a union will do nothing but waste your pay for dues that will take away gas money. If you don’t like your job QUIT!!!!

All you employees that think their jobs are safe better start thinking differently. A union is the only choice you have.

Bruce,
Obviously, you have never worked somewhere that has a union.

Rookie, I have worked for large ($300 to $700 million) corporations and saw first hand what Unions do to productivity and employee morale. The first company I worked for was a Unionized warehouse operation, a miserable place to work. Productivity was ridiculous and their dues went into a fund to elect Democrats to office. Oh, by the way, if they went on strike each union member received $79.00 a week strike pay. The second company, non-union had high morale and HIGHER pay. The company made them part of the corporation and they were consulted on every change that was made. The employees felt part of the company and enjoyed seeing the company successful.
Unions clearly do nothing but destroy productivity and pit the employees against management. You have a right to work where you want to but until you sign your own paycheck you do not have a say in how that company operates. This is a free Country and if you want to change things run for office, become a Commissioner and then make the changes you desire. If you think it’s bad now wait until you become a union.

Charles County Government is a government agency and cannot be run like a company, which is what the commissioners have done. They think they are running a business.

I think they must be running pretty scared about information getting out of the onesidedness of this administration and misuse and harrassment oof employees to send this missive.

The County already deals with Unions- the Police Dept and Corrections has just been added in the last year or so.

The Public School System has a Union.

If the already deal with Unions why penalize or threaten the rest of the employees?

All the bigger County;s that Charles compares itself to has County or City workers Unionized.

All the County does is promise employees parity pay and benefits and then the next years take it away- let the employees decide if they want a union.

You should only be afraid (the County)  if you have issues you need to hide or practices that are worrisome.

I have always been anti- Union until I saw and heard of the way this COunty conducts its business. I think I would urge employees to investiagte a Union.

There has never, never been an open door policy- for a line worker to go in and discuss something or to bring something to the attention to his/her Director would earn a reprimand for not going thru the chain of command. So using that line on employees is ludicrus.

DO you think anyone with REAL issues would go to Comforts lunch and ask uncomfortable questions- the word is from on higher levels- keep your head down and don’t call attention to yourself.

As to not solicitaing and use of COunty time.

I expect to receive a letter with paul comforts letterhead stating:

No selling of girl scout cookies, joe corbi pizza or wrapping paper for your kids school or band or sport team, no donut sales, no filling out papers for tickets to crabs game, no soliating funds for your bosses birthday party, going away party or shower. No greeting cards being passed around to sign….....you get the drift.

Solicataing is soliciating- you cant allow one and exclude another.

Thanks for proving my point!!!!

Unions clearly do nothing but destroy productivity and pit the employees against management.

This is already the case without a Union. From what I hear, it really can’t get any worse.

It was also odd to note, that not a single County employee I have heard from felt comfortable with the “open door” policy, or knew that it existed… and not one had heard of the ‘monthly “Lunch with the County Administrator” meetings.’

Remember the Heating and AC guys and the County lunchroom - unless you work in the GOVT bldg, you know you wouldnt be welcome, even if you knew. Only professionally dressed would apply.

ANd Bruce- what point was proved? I must be dense- I dont see it.

But I have never seen or heard of moral as low as now.

And not to pick on you Bruce, b/c I hope you know that I respect you and your opinion—so please don’t take this the wrong way—but what does it matter to you? You’re not a County employee. As long as County services don’t decrease and this action doesn’t cost any more from your pocket, what’s the difference (but I should add, it shouldn’t matter if it does cost taxpayers any more, look at all the other ‘optional’ things we’ve raised taxes for and put before taking care of our employees)?

I should add, that in most situations I, too, am anti-union. For the County employees and the situations they have faced for about the last decade—with the situation much worse in recent years—this may be their best recourse, but its a decision that they should be able to make for themselves without bullying, interference or intimidation by the County Administration.

Your complaining about things that are not allowed. Remember, employees are not hired to RUN things. They are hired to perform a function that as a whole complete tasks. You have rules to follow and and if you don’t like them QUIT!!!!! If morale is low QUIT!!!!!!! If you can’t complain to someone QUIT!!!!!!! If your not paid enough QUIT!!!!! If you don’t like the way things are being done QUIT!!!! Why work for someone that you don’t like. Unemployment is at the lowest rate in more than 20 years and jobs are plentiful. QUIT and find another one.

Bruce,
Why don’t you QUIT!!! The Union would also benefit the taxpayers.

c’mon Ted, I know this is going to become a heated debate, but lets keep from the playground shoving matches. Keep the debate about the facts and merits not about those commenting. ~Quack @ 20:50

I don’t know about you, but when I have a mortgage and a car payment, and a spouse and kids—living on a budget—QUITTING isn’t a smart move. For some, sure, moving on to a new job works out for them. Remember to take a look at the County employees through the wide lens. A large percentage are blue collar workers, they’re skilled laborers with limited education, training and credentials—but they’re good at what they do. Some County employees serve a specific governmental need, that doesn’t have an equivalent position in the private sector. There are literally thousands of scenarios and each employee’s situation is unique as to why they could or couldn’t just quit. 

If I remember correctly (it’s been a while since you’ve been on the Duck), you’re a supporter of the School System? The teachers are constantly upset about pay, work hours, work load, etc, etc… do you feel the same way and offer the same advice to the Teacher’s Union—hush up and quit?