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The West Virginia State Police are unionizing. Seventy-eight percent of the troopers
voted yesterday to join the Communication Workers of America, according to the
West Virginia Troopers Association.
Joe Parsons, president of the association, said the vote is driven by long time
frustrations with how the administration is handling issues such as retirement,
manpower and pay. Unionization will allow the troopers to actively lobby for their
interests, according to David Moye, Executive Director of the group. They cannot
strike, he said.
State Police Superintendent Howard Hill said "The outcome of the West Virginia
Troopers Association's vote to unionize will not influence me or my administration in
making the decisions we deem best for the department."
The State Police have experienced multiple problems in the past few years, and are
currently under investigation by the FBI and other federal agencies. A request has
been submitted for an investigation by the Department of Justice.
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