AUBURN — Dozens of Androscoggin County workers — dispatchers, jail guards and a few patrol officers — are growing beards to protest their lack of a labor contract.
Sgt. Dave Trafford, right, and Cpl. Patrick Gagnon leave the Androscoggin County Jail following their shift on Friday. Some Androscoggin County deputies are growing beards to protest their lack of a labor contract.
"We've got 100 percent involvement," said David Trafford, who leads the 75-member union local 1828 of AFSCME Council 93. Those unable to grow beards are wearing polo shirts and jeans or alternative uniforms.
Since public safety workers are unable to strike, the job action was called to vent some frustration. Its details were negotiated with Sheriff Guy Desjardins, to ensure that no one would be disciplined, Trafford said.
The workers have been without a contract since the start of 2009. The negotiation between county commissioners has gone on and on, with marathon meetings during the summer and both sides headed to mediation.
They tossed out the razors about two weeks ago.
"Some of us are looking pretty scruffy," Trafford said. Among them are the officers who transport inmates from the county jail. Most patrol deputies are unable to grow their beards because they could be called to situations where they must wear gas masks or other headgear.
The Sun Journal was unable to reach Sheriff Guy Desjardins for comment. Randall Greenwood, the chairman of the county commission, declined to make a statement.
For himself, Trafford seemed to think the new look — sporting a goatee, polo shirt and jeans — was working.
"I'm doing it all," he said.
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It would be nice to have a
It would be nice to have a contract!
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where are all the other posts?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Isn't some standard of
Isn't some standard of conduct that would prohibit such a display? If so these people should be told to clean up their act, or find other employment. They should have pride about their job.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Tron, are you really that
Tron, are you really that much of an idiot, or do you have to work at it? Public Safety workers cannot strike for fair treatment. All they can do is conduct a job action like this, to show the public how poorly they are being treated by the County Commissioners. My only problem with this is the implication that the Sheriff had to "sign off" on this. He should have been advocating for his employees all along. The fact that he hasn't been speaks volumes about him - none of it good.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Not a lot of transparency
Not a lot of transparency from the "new" Androscoggin County county commissioners, in addition to their willingness to increase their budget during a time that the member communities cannot afford it. Time to vote them out next election.
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