AFSCME Council 65 on Political Firings and Organizing in South Dakota

Two sheriff's deputies in Union County, South Dakota, had a yard sign for the losing candidate on their property. Three weeks after their sheriff won his election, they were fired in a letter citing the at-will employment law and no stated cause. They were in the middle of negotiating their first union contract when it happened. The county's lawyer had argued against including just cause language in that contract just weeks before the firings. On today's episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, AFSCME Council 65 Labor Representative Jordan Deffenbaugh discusses the Union County case, the active response campaign including petitions, rallies and appeals to the governor and attorney general, a pattern of conduct concerns at the sheriff's office that predate the deputy firings and why he believes this situation could spark a broader organizing surge in Southeast South Dakota, where union density currently sits at approximately 2.7 percent. Visit afscme65.org for more.