Bluegrass' COs Form a Union

In November, corrections, parole and probation, and other state law enforcement officers from Kentucky voted to form a union with AFSCME by an overwhelming margin of 1,284 to 287. The unit consists of 3,400 workers.

AFSCME will represent these employees before the Governor’s Advisory Council to negotiate better pay, working conditions and benefits. "Corrections and other state law enforcement employees now have a voice in making important changes in our work life," said Bob Meade, who works at Northpoint Training Center. "We are concerned about low staffing ratios, inadequate pay and affordable family health insurance."

"State workers understand the importance of a unified message," says Carolyn Klinglesmith, AFSCME’s Kentucky organizing director. "More than 80 percent of the corrections unit have responded in a positive way to an experienced union with a record of proven results."