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Merger Locked Up for Seattle Police Guild
The membership of the Seattle Police Officer's Guild, by a substantial majority, approved the affiliation of their 1,245-member organization with CWA's National Coalition of Public Safety Officers.
Following a recent round of membership meetings to explain details of the merger, a mail ballot ratification was conducted and SPOG announced the results on April 12.
"I'm extremely pleased this went through," said SPOG President Kevin Haistings. "We got step 1 done. Now step 2 is to go forward and make the affiliation work for us." Haistings said he is "looking forward to being able to reach out and get some ideas from other union leaders and get some support if we need it."
Said NCPSO-CWA Director John Burpo: "This affiliation is going to bring new energy to SPOG's efforts in the labor-management arena. In particular, CWA is going to be able to give them assistance in their political action program to increase their clout with the city."
"This is a big boost for the CWA law enforcement program and puts us into the Pacific Northwest for the first time," Burpo noted. "And it consolidates the gains we've been making in the Western United States. We're very strong in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, and now, Washington." NCPSO affiliates in those areas account for 18,000 CWA members.
In addition to Haistings and Burpo, CWA Representative Rick Sorensen, CWA Local 7800 President Brenda Roberts and NCPSO President Chris McGill all had a hand in the presentations.
The campaign began after SPOG officers visited NCPSO's news media seminar in June 2004 in Orlando. "They enjoyed what they saw and heard," Burpo said.
"Their board picked CWA over other unions that were competing, including IUPA (International Union of Police Associations) and the Teamsters," said Burpo, "due to the strong CWA presence in the Puget Sound area, our excellent law enforcement program and our core organizational values."
Following a recent round of membership meetings to explain details of the merger, a mail ballot ratification was conducted and SPOG announced the results on April 12.
"I'm extremely pleased this went through," said SPOG President Kevin Haistings. "We got step 1 done. Now step 2 is to go forward and make the affiliation work for us." Haistings said he is "looking forward to being able to reach out and get some ideas from other union leaders and get some support if we need it."
Said NCPSO-CWA Director John Burpo: "This affiliation is going to bring new energy to SPOG's efforts in the labor-management arena. In particular, CWA is going to be able to give them assistance in their political action program to increase their clout with the city."
"This is a big boost for the CWA law enforcement program and puts us into the Pacific Northwest for the first time," Burpo noted. "And it consolidates the gains we've been making in the Western United States. We're very strong in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, and now, Washington." NCPSO affiliates in those areas account for 18,000 CWA members.
In addition to Haistings and Burpo, CWA Representative Rick Sorensen, CWA Local 7800 President Brenda Roberts and NCPSO President Chris McGill all had a hand in the presentations.
The campaign began after SPOG officers visited NCPSO's news media seminar in June 2004 in Orlando. "They enjoyed what they saw and heard," Burpo said.
"Their board picked CWA over other unions that were competing, including IUPA (International Union of Police Associations) and the Teamsters," said Burpo, "due to the strong CWA presence in the Puget Sound area, our excellent law enforcement program and our core organizational values."