— This is one in a series of articles focusing on the candidates’ positions on issues relevant to Muskogee’s 2012 municipal elections.



Labor rights earned a lot of attention this past year as legislatures in Oklahoma and elsewhere began whittling those away.

The issue landed on the steps of City Hall after city councilors stripped non-uniform employees of their collective bargaining rights and then tried to outsource some of their jobs.

City administrators and city councilors retreated after rebuke by city workers and their supporters. The rights city workers have now, labor rights supporters say, pale in comparison with those they enjoyed before.

Candidates seeking the post held by Ward I Councilor Bob Coburn, who is running  for mayor, differed dramatically on labor concerns.

Business owner Gary Cooper Jr. and online sales representative John Lowrimore offered ways to improve labor relations that leave out the union.

Lee Ann Langston, a former educator who now directs a Workforce Investment Act program in eastern Oklahoma, supports collective bargaining rights without reservation.

Cooper, who owns GK Home Furnishings in downtown Muskogee, said he believes the delivery of city services is “pretty good.” But he offered ideas about how that could be improved.

“I think we should look at our non-uniform employees’ work histories, turnover rates and compare wages of like cities along with benefits,” Cooper said. “If we are very competitive, then maybe we look at other choices such as hiring a community liaison that could help make the City Council and city manager aware of any issues.”

He said his experiences with city workers has been good: Phone calls were returned, and the level of service and interest among employees “to do a good job seems pretty good.”

“I think when outside influences come in, they look for issues to divide and capitalize,” Cooper said.

Langston described the right to bargain collectively for employment contract terms as “a win-win for all parties when done correctly.”

“Front-line workers know better than anyone else what equipment they need for their own safety while protecting ours,” she said. “They know when their tools or methods are antiquated.  They need to have a voice, and they need to be heard.”

Langston said city workers she has visited with know their jobs well. The city, she said, should make sure its workers have the opportunities to upgrade their skills and advance.

Langston said there have been times when city employees have made efforts to team with city administrators to improve efficiency.

Citing recent efforts to outsource management of Muskogee’s wastewater treatment plant, Langston said employees offered cost-saving solutions but were ignored by administrators.

“Outsourcing some jobs is essential. Eliminating our friends’ and neighbors’ jobs to do so is usually not a good idea, though,” she said.

“I think insourcing is a much better idea. Someone living in ... (Muskogee) has the skills to do anything a company from France could do, and I can almost guarantee that the money earned by our citizens will be spent in Muskogee and not in France.”

Lowrimore, a former union member, said union representation is not the answer to non-uniform employees’ concerns.

“I am against the union because I believe they are not the answer to fix some tough times,” he said. “I think they would put us under, and no jobs would come here if we go with the union way — if we give them that control we can’t afford to.”

However, Lowrimore also said organized labor has some good points, but he did not elaborate.

“I would listen to every citizen involved in the union and would support them with their prospective jobs,” he said. “I would bring some people in that strictly provided those delivery services in a timely, faster manner.”

Muskogee voters will choose four ward representatives and the city’s next mayor Feb. 14.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.