‘Meet and Consult’ Process for West Va State Workers

With support from CWA and other unions, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin announced a new experimental process for state employees to gain input on improving working conditions and delivering state services more efficiently.  The "meet and consult" reforms will apply to 200 CWA-represented employees in the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority and three other state government divisions where workers are represented by AFSCME and the Mine Workers.

Meet and consult is part of a two-year pilot program to address staff shortages and promote government efficiency.  State employees, who do not have collective bargaining rights, endorsed the plan as a way to improve working conditions and improve public safety, said CWA Rep. Elaine Harris. CWA also represents the West Virginia state troopers, state corrections and juvenile service employees.    

The state's ten regional jails currently are overcrowded and the facilities often face difficulty in recruiting and retaining experienced personnel. "It's no secret that our overcrowded jails pose a big public safety risk," said CWA Local 2055 member David Ice, a regional jail employee.  "That's why we need open communication with the state to identify risks and make them right.  Gov. Manchin's reforms help us do just that," he said at an April 11 news conference to announce the program.

Other agencies covered by "meet and consult" include the Division of Highways, General Services Division and Purchasing Division.