WICOMICO SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES TO VOTE ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING REPRESENTATION ON FRIDAY

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., and Wicomico Sheriff Michael A. Lewis announced that Full-Time Certified Sheriff’s Deputies below the rank of Lieutenant will cast ballots this Friday to determine if the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #111, will be their exclusive collective bargaining agent. Balloting is set for

6:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. and from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Sheriff’s headquarters. Executive Pollitt and Sheriff Lewis will be present for the vote tally which will begin as soon as the polls close. Results will be announced immediately.

“This is a great day for the deputies and the citizens of Wicomico County.” said Pollitt. “In the election of 2006, voters overwhelmingly adopted a Charter Amendment allowing the deputies to seek a collective bargaining agreement with the county that included binding arbitration. I backed that referendum then and I back the election that is about to take place.” Sheriff Lewis added, “I strongly believe that the citizens of Wicomico County want our brave deputies to have every tool available to them to seek just compensation for the often dangerous work they perform for the common good and safety of every man, woman and child in our county.”

Inspired by the 2006 referendum, Executive Pollitt submitted Bill Number 2007-3 known as the “Collective Bargaining Bill.” The legislation would have established a labor code for Wicomico County but the County Council returned an amended version that would bind the Executive but not the Council, to arbitration. Mr. Pollitt stated that he could not, in the best interests of the deputies, agree with that and vetoed the bill on January 9, 2008. Subsequently, the Council overrode Pollitt’s veto and adopted Bill 2007-3 as amended. The Fraternal Order of Police then filed suit against the county. On February 1, 2010, the courts declared the Charter Amendment unconstitutional and the legislation void.

On September 7, 2010, following the adoption of State legislation, the “Collective Bargaining” bill was again introduced and a public hearing concerning it was held on October 5^th. The County Council unanimously adopted the measure and the Executive approved it on October 11^th. It became law on December 10^th. On December 17^th, the Fraternal Order of Police filed a “Petition for Certification of a Union as a Bargaining Agent for Wicomico County Deputy Sheriffs holding the ranks below that of Lieutenant.” The petition was accepted and the date for election was set as February 11^th.