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Court Monitors Win Right to Negotiate as Single Unit
Court monitors in the judicial branch have won an important victory that will allow all of them to speak with one voice.

"It will give us more of a say over what is happening with our jobs," said Julie Findley. "We were very excited and jubilant."

The Dec. 29, 2005, ruling by the Public Employee Labor Relations Board means that monitors from superior court will be joined by workers from the family division and probate court. Obviously this will give them greater leverage through strength of numbers as they strive to maintain and enhance court services.

The hearing officer ruled that "a sufficient community of interest exists among all court monitor/assistants to form a single barging unit and that it is reasonable for these employees to negotiate as a single unit with the Judicial Branch."

The officer noted one factor that will contribute to union solidarity. "A strong self-felt community of interest also exists among these employees, and reasonably so, based upon their common training, knowledge, skills, and responsibilities."

The judicial branch's treatment of court reporters demonstrated to the monitors the value of a union contract. The reporters, who used stenographer's machines to create hearing transcripts, were laid off after courts ruled that they were employees at will who could not rely on assurances that their jobs were secure.

"We saw that what happened to the stenos can happen to anyone without a union contract," said Findley.