Florida Department of Corrections Officers Vote to Join Teamsters

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Nov 17, 2011, 03:40 ET

Hoffa: Tough Times Call For Tough Representation For Nearly 20,000 FDOC Officers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A majority of the nearly 20,000 correctional, probation and parole officers with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) have voted to join the Teamsters Union, seeking strength and power on the job. The Teamsters' victory in the election was announced today.

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"This is a great day for Teamsters and FDOC officers," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "FDOC officers have shown that in tough times, they want a tough union to represent them. On behalf of the 1.4 million Teamster members, I congratulate these officers for joining the growing movement of public service workers nationwide seeking Teamster power."

The vote for Teamsters Local 2011 was a decisive win over the Police Benevolent Association and the International Union of Police Associations.

Glynn Reeder, a sergeant with Florida State Prison in Raiford, was active in organizing his co-workers to join the Teamsters and was present at the vote count.

"The Teamsters have shown us that we can make positive change when we work together as a union," Reeder said. "Now that we've won the election, we need to get everyone to become an active member of our new union so FDOC officers can change our destiny."

"I'm very excited that all of us came together—probation, parole and correctional officers—to unite for a better future with the Teamsters," said Becky Pastor, a correctional probation senior officer in Lake City. "We've learned that we are the union and it's up to us to make the change we need."

"We welcome FDOC officers to Teamsters Local 2011, a newly chartered local that will solely represent and serve the interests of FDOC officers," said Ken Wood, International Vice President and Acting President of Local 2011, based in Tampa.

"These officers go to work every day to keep our communities safe and they deserve the best representation, which Local 2011 will provide."

"This Teamster victory is a statewide referendum that FDOC officers want a new voice in the workplace and in Tallahassee," said Michael Filler, Director of the Teamsters Public Services Division. "It's time for elected officials and government administrators to value the thousands of public employees who protect communities against Florida's inmate population. The Teamsters look forward to beginning that dialogue to correct the years of neglect within the Department of Corrections."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including more than 240,000 public service employees. Visit www.teamster.org and http://fdocteamsters.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters