|Photo by Joselyn King| United Mine Workers of America representative Chad Francis speaks before Ohio County commissioners about 911 dispatchers in the county wanting to join the UMWA.

Ohio County 911 dispatchers are wanting to unionize and join the United Mine Workers of America.

Chad Francis, a representative from the UMWA, brought the request to the attention of Ohio County commissioners Tuesday night.

Francis said a “significant number” of the 911 employees have reached out to the UMWA expressing a strong desire for union representation.

“We believe it is their right as Americans to assemble and seek representation in the workplace,” he said. “We currently represent other 911 employees in West Virginia, and have established a great working relationship with other commissioners.

“Tonight, we ask that this commission sign the resolution that I have provided and collaborate with us to assure that a free and fair election take place.”

Francis said the UMWA is also asking the commission’s assistance in finding a neutral third party to oversee a future election of union officers.

Commissioners took no action or made any comment following Francis’ statement.

Following the meeting, Commission President Don Nickerson said the commission would next have Solicitor Don Tennant review the resolution “to see if we can do it.”

In March, Ohio County 911 employees filed a lawsuit against the Ohio County Commission citing multiple claims. Among these were issues related to pay and claims of an unsafe work environment.

The lawsuit states the county did not properly pay “on-call” dispatchers for that designation, failed to fully compensate dispatchers for lost vacation and sick leave time, and made dispatchers use personal sick leave for COVID-19 sickness, quarantining and county-mandated quarantine periods. The suit added the 911 dispatch office lacked adequate fire escapes and was contaminated with black dust and soot from the HVAC system.

Issues regarding fire escapes and the HVAC system are presently being addressed – or have been in recent months – by county officials.

In other matters, Sheriff-elect Nelson Croft announced Lt. Kent Lewis will be his chief deputy after he takes office in January.

Croft said Lewis has 22 years of experience with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, and for the last nine years he has been a member of the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force.

He has been a K9 handler, and was in charge of the sheriff’s office K9 division.

The commission will next meet at 6 p.m. on Dec. 17.