FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2003
April 11, 2003
Diane Witiak
(202) 639-6419
(202) 639-6419
Fort Stewart Local Wins Elections For Professional & Private Sector Employees
(Fort Stewart, Ga.)—In back-to-back elections, AFGE Local 1922 has won the right to represent both the professional employees at Winn Army Community Hospital and private sector employees working for Griffin Services, Inc.
Some 100 professional employees—including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacists—chose AFGE as their representative in an election held March 31, 2003. The new bargaining unit will become part of Local 1922 which already represents non-professional employees at the Ft. Stewart hospital.
Later that same week, Local 1922 won the right to represent private sector employees working for Griffin Services, Inc. Griffin Services won the public-private competition for general maintenance services at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield several years earlier. Services by Griffin include electrical maintenance, road and grounds maintenance, air conditioning, plumbing, carpentry, and water and sewage treatment. Those federal employees who lost their job and went to work for Griffin as a result of the competition found they were working in a position for less pay and their paid benefits had been eliminated. In addition, most employees have not received a pay increase since beginning work with Griffin in August 2001.
Mark DeUnger, President of Local 1922, is looking forward to sitting down at the bargaining table and negotiating improved pay and benefits for these employees. “Many of these employees used to work for the federal government, and had a decent living wage and benefits to provide for themselves and their families,” stated DeUnger. “They’re part of AFGE’s family now and we’re going to make sure the pay and benefits of these employees increase as Griffin’s profits increase.”
The election for the 200 plus employees of Griffin Services was held April 3, 2003. The vote tally was 113 for AFGE; 63 for no union.
Some 100 professional employees—including physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacists—chose AFGE as their representative in an election held March 31, 2003. The new bargaining unit will become part of Local 1922 which already represents non-professional employees at the Ft. Stewart hospital.
Later that same week, Local 1922 won the right to represent private sector employees working for Griffin Services, Inc. Griffin Services won the public-private competition for general maintenance services at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield several years earlier. Services by Griffin include electrical maintenance, road and grounds maintenance, air conditioning, plumbing, carpentry, and water and sewage treatment. Those federal employees who lost their job and went to work for Griffin as a result of the competition found they were working in a position for less pay and their paid benefits had been eliminated. In addition, most employees have not received a pay increase since beginning work with Griffin in August 2001.
Mark DeUnger, President of Local 1922, is looking forward to sitting down at the bargaining table and negotiating improved pay and benefits for these employees. “Many of these employees used to work for the federal government, and had a decent living wage and benefits to provide for themselves and their families,” stated DeUnger. “They’re part of AFGE’s family now and we’re going to make sure the pay and benefits of these employees increase as Griffin’s profits increase.”
The election for the 200 plus employees of Griffin Services was held April 3, 2003. The vote tally was 113 for AFGE; 63 for no union.
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