November 19, 2021
Earlier this month, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) welcomed 895 new union members, as corrections employees of the GEO Group voted to ratify a newly established collective bargaining agreement granting union representation. The new members work in California and Georgia at GEO facilities operated on U.S. Marshals Service contracts and include corrections officers, teachers, counselors, doctors, nurses, translators, and other staff.
NFFE-IAM staff traveled extensively to several facilities over the past few months to illustrate the value of NFFE-IAM representation to potential new members. GEO employees made their voices loud and clear that unionizing was in their best interest, overwhelmingly voting to approve the collective bargaining agreement with 85% in favor.
“I am humbled to welcome so many new brothers and sisters into our union from GEO,” said NFFE-IAM Organizing Director, Ethan West. “This win not only represents a huge accomplishment for the NFFE-IAM family and the labor movement as a whole, but it also secures union rights and protections for so many hard working people across the country. That’s what this is about for me – employees grabbing the bull by the horns to make their lives on the job better and more secure. I’m honored to have played a small role in that.”
“This has been a long road traveled since I organized the first private prison union in the country, here in Washington, D.C. in 1996,” stated Roosevelt Littlejohn, stated NFFE-IAM Business Representative for the private-sector. “From affiliating with the IAM in January of 2000, to then working with NFFE in May of 2010. I’m so proud of the partnership and commitments that IAM President Bob Martinez Jr., NFFE President Randy Erwin, and countless others have made to make this happen. It may have been my dream, but our team made it a reality. Now I am confident the committee we have from GEO will make a difference in our members lives.”
“We are incredibly proud to welcome so many dedicated workers to the NFFE-IAM family,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “Organizing 900 employees in a single drive is a historic victory for our union and the labor movement. We are honored to represent workers of the GEO Group as they fight for a better workplace and we look forward to helping with that mission in the years to come.”
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