By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor
The Village of Elk Rapids Department of Public Works (DPW) wanted the protections only a Union could provide and they got that and more after choosing Governmental Employees Labor Council (GELC) as their Union representation.
Internal issues, combined with a growing number of Village Employees leaving, led the six-member group to seek unionization. 
“We were losing guys who were leaving to make more money. There was a lot of internal stuff getting shaken up and people were quitting,” said Scott Riddle, Village of Elk Rapids DPW Local Union Steward. “We just weren’t too happy.”
“The last 18 months there have been lots of changes in the Village management,” said Elk Rapids DPW Alternate Steward Dale Hulburt. “We were at-will Employees and we felt like we were sitting ducks. From Village managers to clerks to the Treasurer, we started having a revolving door. We had some Employees that left and came back for more money. We thought we needed to have somebody to help support us.”
They didn’t have to look far as the Village of Elk Rapids Police Officers are represented by the GELC’s sister union, the Police Officers Labor Council (POLC). “They were all happy with negotiations and they were getting really good support and so we said ‘OK, let’s see if we can get in on this,'” Riddle said.
The group contacted GELC Labor Representative Christopher Watts in late January 2023. “They came out and told us what they do, what they were about,” Riddle said. “Later, we took a vote and it was unanimous – ‘Yes, this is what we want.’”
Elk Rapids DPW settled their contract in December 2023, which included 12 percent wage increases over the three-year agreement. Starting pay also increased from $18 per hour for Laborers to $21.50 hourly. Wages for Operator 1 start at $22.80 per hour and $23.80 per hour for Operator 2. Previously, starting pay for Operators was based on their level of experience.
“We raised their wages pretty well and we established the contract. They never had one before,” Watts said.
The group received new cell phone stipends of $25 per month to pay for using their personal phones for work, and their annual Boot Allowance increased from $250 to $300.
Riddle summed up their experience with GELC with one word – “Phenomenal!”
“Chris is a great dude. I really enjoy working with him,” Riddle said. “Communications have been awesome. We all love that now we have a voice, where we didn’t before. Chris is a no bull type of guy so he’s not afraid to throw punches with them.”
“I am pushing 60 years old and have never been part of a union so I was skeptical to be honest,” Hulburt said, adding that he decided to support his co-workers in the effort to unionize. “Through the process of negotiating the contract, I saw some benefits to having the Union have our back. I am more than pleased, and I was more than skeptical going in.”
