Dispute tangles union vote by Humane Society workers

About half the workers at the Humane Society for Seattle/King County Inc. could end up being represented by the Animal Control Officers Guild in Kent, but the election results aren't certified yet, according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Of the 38 employees at the Bellevue-based nonprofit who were eligible to vote, 15 voted for union representation and 14 voted against, said Richard Ahearn, regional director of the NLRB, an independent federal agency that administers the National Labor Relations Act.

Two more people cast votes that remain sealed, Ahearn said, because their eligibility to be in the bargaining unit is in question. The election won't be certified until the dispute over the two challenged ballots is resolved, he said.

The bargaining unit would cover those employees who work directly with the animals, but not veterinarians. The union lost a separate election on a tie vote, 1-1, to represent the nonprofit's veterinarians. Three workers were eligible to vote in that election.

The union now represents the 28 officers who work for King County Animal Care and Control, which County Executive Kurt Triplett has proposed dismantling by June 30. The Humane Society has been in talks with Triplett's staff about taking on animal-shelter services for King County.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com