Guards at plant OK new union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5621592.ht...

March 14, 2008, 10:58PM
Guards at plant OK new union
Vote replaces group representing security workers at S. Texas Project

By TOM FOWLER
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Security guards at the South Texas Project nuclear plant near Bay City voted this week to be represented by a relatively small Washington, D.C.-based union.

The National Union of Protective Services Associations received 62 of 78 votes cast in an election held at the plant Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board reported Friday.

NUPSA beat out the group that previously represented the guards, Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America, which received two votes. A third group, the United Government Security Officers of America, received 14 votes.

The stage was set for this week's election when contract negotiations between the security force and their employer, Wackenhut, reached an impasse in early February. When guards asked the union for permission to picket the plant, SPFPA told federal labor officials it planned to stop representing the guards, according to union and government officials.

The United Government Security Officers of America petitioned to represent the group. Then the incumbent union changed its mind about dropping the group and asked to be put on the ballot.

The winning National Union of Protective Services Associations was added to the ballot late last week.

FULL story at link.