ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office are set to vote over the next two days on whether to form a union.
If the majority of employees vote in favor, they will get a representative to help facilitate collective bargaining with the Sheriff’s Office and county leadership.
Recommended Videos
The voting is taking place by secret ballots and mail-in ballots. The final count will be at St. Johns County Sheriff’s Ofice headquarters at 6 p.m. Friday.
According to our news partner Jax Today, Florida Fraternal Order of Police President Shawn Dunlap said that forming a union would give deputies more power to ask for higher wages and better working conditions.
“For too long, the voices of the frontline deputies, corporals and sergeants have been unheard when it comes to decisions that directly impact their safety, job security, and financial well-being,” Dunlap said in a statement last week. “By joining together, we can ensure that our concerns are addressed and that we have a formal seat at the table when discussing our future.”
The Florida Fraternal Order of Police represents organized sheriff’s deputies across 100 agencies. The FOP offers legal and other support like stepping in when they believe a law enforcement officer has been wrongfully terminated.