Kansas State Employees Now Have New Union Clout

May 29, 2007

Some 14,000 executive branch state employees have greater strength as a result of a major May 16 ruling of the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).

“This is a new day – a great day – for Kansas and state employees,” says Gerald Raab, an environmental technician for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and president of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE). The organization was created in March by the merger of AFSCME and the Kansas Association of Public Employees/ American Federation of Teachers. “As a result of the PERB’s decision, we have a golden opportunity to make a difference on issues that matter to state workers and Kansans,” says Raab.

PERB approved a state plan to consolidate small, geographically based bargaining units into larger occupation-based units. That antiquated bargaining unit structure impeded the ability of unions to address occupation-specific issues. 

KOSE was established in anticipation that the structure would be changed to help workers build more power for negotiating. As a result of the ruling, it is automatically recognized as the certified bargaining agent for six of the 16 newly formed units. All non-supervisory, non-confidential classified executive branch employees (exclusive of those in higher education) are eligible to join KOSE.

 “The creation of one strong and united union will give state employees more clout at the bargaining table, in the workplace and in the Legislature, where decisions about work, pay and benefits are made,” says AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee.