Lucio Vasquez/Houston Public Media
Rodney Ellis at a press conference on Feb. 6, 2020.
Harris County could soon become one of the first major jurisdictions in Texas to establish a policy enabling labor organizations to advocate for higher wages and improved working conditions for government employees.
The worker consultations policy — proposed by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis — is set to be discussed and considered during a commissioners court meeting on Thursday.
Though Texas law prohibits public employees from collective bargaining, the local program could make it easier for county workers to file grievances related to pay, workplace conditions and terminations. Under the policy, nonsupervisory employees in certain county departments could also file group grievances and request representation by labor organizations to lodge complaints. Harris County’s five-member commissioners court, which currently includes four Democrats, would retain final authority over personnel policies and recommendations.
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“This policy that we have creates a consultation process between county workers and county leadership,” Ellis said. “It gives workers a seat at the table to raise workplace concerns about wages, hours, promotions and working conditions. It creates a clear process so workers can make their case when problems arise. “
If the proposal receives approval by commissioners on Thursday, interested county workers could select a labor organization to represent them. An organization would be established as an agent when it receives support from 20% of eligible employees. If multiple organizations qualify for the title, employees would vote in an election to select one sole representative, according to the proposed policy.
The organization would be charged with creating a consultation team — composed of eight employee reps selected by the labor organization and eight management reps appointed by county leadership — to field complaints and submit recommendations to commissioners court for final approval. The team would meet regularly to discuss grievances and potential changes to the county’s personnel policies, Ellis said.
Harris County employees who join a labor organization could have dues deducted from their paychecks. They could also decline paying dues.
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Commissioner Lesley Briones said the policy would ensure workers’ voices are considered in county-level decisions.
“This is another step in our deep commitment to making sure that we are being fair, that we are being inclusive, respectful, and honoring the dignity of the workers,” Briones said.
The proposal follows school districts and other governmental bodies that have adopted similar worker representation policies — including the Houston and Austin independent school districts and the City of Austin. Harris County, which employs about 20,000 people, would become the first county in Texas to adopt such a program.
The proposal drew complaints last weekend from Republican candidates who are running for the county judge’s position, currently held by Democrat Lina Hidalgo, who is not seeking reelection. Orlando Sanchez and Warren Howell — candidates headed to a May 26 runoff election to be selected as the Republican nominee for the position — said in separate statements that the policy would act as a backdoor to unionizing county employees.
“Public sector unionization would impose rigid structures, increase bureaucratic overhead, drive up costs for taxpayers, and hinder the flexibility our county needs to deliver efficient services,” Sanchez said. “It risks prioritizing union demands over the fiscal responsibility and accountability that Harris County residents expect and deserve from their government.”
Howell, a business owner and Air Force veteran, called the proposed policy a “recipe for fiscal disaster.”