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Handcuffed by Lean Budget, West Virginia State Troopers Join Union
Eighty-three years ago, when West Virginia formed a state police force, recruits worked hard to earn the military-style campaign hat that has become the troopers’ symbol of pride and tradition.
In those days, following World War I, West Virginia was a wild, untamed state. The original 50 troopers received a rifle, a badge and $75 per month. They supplied their own uniforms, and those who had one rode a horse.
Today, with more than 630 troopers, the agency is drastically understaffed and underfunded,
That’s why the West Virginia Troopers Association voted 391-55 in April to join CWA and its National Coalition of Public Safety Officers.
“I am very excited about our affiliation and hopeful that our partnership with CWA will bring the West Virginia Troopers more in line with troopers in other states throughout the country,” said association President Joe Parsons.
District 2 Vice President Pete Catucci, whose father was a police officer, said the troopers are “a good fit with CWA.”
“Our union is well respected in the state legislature,” he said. “We can work together to improve their quality of life and achieve a higher level of public safety.”
NCPSO Director John Burpo said CWA Representative Elaine Harris established a relationship with the troopers and, “was one of the main reasons they affiliated, because she is so knowledgeable about the state legislative process and knows key political figures throughout the state. ”
The troopers — the fourth oldest state police force in the country — want wages, retirement benefits, a grievance procedure and technology that are more like that of other West Virginia agencies and with state police elsewhere.
Currently, 16 West Virginia counties have only three troopers to patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two counties have only two troopers assigned.
“Our inability to retain our recruits has led to dangerous manpower shortages. We are without even the simplest of technological tools such as e-mail capabilities between detachments or with other agencies throughout the country. If anybody ever needed a union’s help, it is the West Virginia State
Police,” Parsons said.
The troopers, who do not have collective bargaining, depend on the state legislature to change things. But state law prevents them from lobbying, campaigning for political candidates or striking, Harris said.
With the CWA affiliation, they will have stronger ties to the state AFL-CIO, and Harris will lobby for them.
In those days, following World War I, West Virginia was a wild, untamed state. The original 50 troopers received a rifle, a badge and $75 per month. They supplied their own uniforms, and those who had one rode a horse.
Today, with more than 630 troopers, the agency is drastically understaffed and underfunded,
That’s why the West Virginia Troopers Association voted 391-55 in April to join CWA and its National Coalition of Public Safety Officers.
“I am very excited about our affiliation and hopeful that our partnership with CWA will bring the West Virginia Troopers more in line with troopers in other states throughout the country,” said association President Joe Parsons.
District 2 Vice President Pete Catucci, whose father was a police officer, said the troopers are “a good fit with CWA.”
“Our union is well respected in the state legislature,” he said. “We can work together to improve their quality of life and achieve a higher level of public safety.”
NCPSO Director John Burpo said CWA Representative Elaine Harris established a relationship with the troopers and, “was one of the main reasons they affiliated, because she is so knowledgeable about the state legislative process and knows key political figures throughout the state. ”
The troopers — the fourth oldest state police force in the country — want wages, retirement benefits, a grievance procedure and technology that are more like that of other West Virginia agencies and with state police elsewhere.
Currently, 16 West Virginia counties have only three troopers to patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two counties have only two troopers assigned.
“Our inability to retain our recruits has led to dangerous manpower shortages. We are without even the simplest of technological tools such as e-mail capabilities between detachments or with other agencies throughout the country. If anybody ever needed a union’s help, it is the West Virginia State
Police,” Parsons said.
The troopers, who do not have collective bargaining, depend on the state legislature to change things. But state law prevents them from lobbying, campaigning for political candidates or striking, Harris said.
With the CWA affiliation, they will have stronger ties to the state AFL-CIO, and Harris will lobby for them.