IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  5-19-06  CONTACT:  PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

SILVER CITY—A secret ballot election will be held on June 1, 2006, for all eligible Western New Mexico University Maintenance Department blue-collar employees and campus police officers that have been identified as members of the proposed collective bargaining unit.  The paper secret ballot election will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on campus at the WNMU Brancheau Physical Education Complex lobby.

The ballot will allow eligible employees to vote for representation by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) or to vote for no representation.

The secret ballot election will be conducted independently by the WNMU Labor Management Relations Board. The WNMU Labor Management Relations Board is a neutral body that mediates between WNMU and AFSCME.  

“The position of the administration of WNMU remains that it is the right of our employees to organize if they so choose. The Board of Regents and the WNMU administration recognize and appreciate the remarkable contributions of WNMU employees.  Union representation is an employee decision; the Board of Regents and Administration will respect and support whatever decision the WNMU employee group makes,” said WNMU President John E. Counts.  “It is important that all eligible employees vote on that day on this important issue,”

On April 6, 2006, the WNMU Labor Management Relations Board received a Representation Petition from AFSCME Council 18 for a unit of all blue-collar employees employed at the Silver City campus in the maintenance department and campus police officers.  The petition did not mention any other employee groups.  Of the approximately 343 regular fulltime WNMU employees, approximately 40 individuals make up the referenced maintenance department and campus police officer group. 

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