Charles Mix County recognizes AFSCME as bargaining representative for highway workers

The Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners recorded a formal recognition of AFSCME (AFL-CIO) as the collective-bargaining representative for the county highway department employees, excluding the county highway superintendent.

Minutes from the December 15, 1971 session document that Quentin Roth, representing AFSCME, met with the commissioners and signed an agreement with the county and a neutral party, Rolf Wangberg. The agreement was adopted to determine wages, hours and other working conditions after a majority-status showing under cited state rules (the minutes reference state rules for majority status). The item was presented and memorialized as a signed agreement dated December 15, 1971.

Follow-up: the minutes show multiple subsequent sessions where union representatives and county commissioners or stewards met to negotiate and set dates for further bargaining (meetings recorded in late February, March and onsite sessions in June and August 1972). Those subsequent entries show the county and union scheduling and preparing proposals; the board recorded discussions about legality and consultation with the states attorney.

The minutes do not record a final collective-bargaining agreement in the provided text, only recognition and ongoing negotiations through 1972.