


Livingston (MI) Essential Transportation Services employees voted 15-14 Friday against unionizing, according to county officials. A total of 31 employees including drivers, dispatchers and utility workers were mailed ballots by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission in early February. The employees were voting about whether to join the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 547, AFL-CIO.
The employees must wait a year before filing for another election, said Jennifer Palmbos, Livingston County labor relations manager. At the time ballots were mailed, union field representative Brian McNally predicted a majority of the employees would vote to unionize. He was not available for comment Friday.
McNally previously said the employees said they wanted a voice in the way things were handled at LETS.
LETS provides public transportation for all Livingston County residents. It is funded through state, federal and local dollars.
McNally said he was contacted by LETS employees in early January about scheduling an election.
David V.J. Linksz, LETS director, and Katrina Maxwell, LETS operations manager, accompanied Palmbos to Detroit on Friday morning. The ballots were counted at 10:30 a.m. at the Michigan Employment Relations Commission office in Detroit.
(dailypressandargus.com)