Lee County school support staff to vote for new union president

All the other people school staff besides teachers—school bus drivers, dispatchers, custodians, cafeteria workers, secretaries, etc.—are represented by a union, and now they are going to elect a new leader.

Members of the Support Personnel Association of Lee County must mail in their ballots by May 23, when a new president will be announced. There are three candidates running to be president of the union: Arlease Williams, who has been in transportation with the School District of Lee County for over 30 years; Allen Jones Sr., who has been a bus driver with LCSD for 12 years; and Roderick Wilson, who has been a security specialist with LCSD for 11 years.

WINK News asked all three candidates why they want to be the next SPALC president.

“I know that I can make a change, that the people need to know that they have someone that has their best interests at heart, that the people need to know that they have a voice and that they have someone that will not only stand with them, that will stand for them,” Jones said.

“We have a great need for leadership in the SPALC office and, so, I can be the voice of all, Williams said. “I’m a fighter. I will be transparent.”

“I see the importance of the union and I see what it does and what benefits it has to offer,” Wilson said. “I really feel strongly about it and I’m passionate about the union, and we all can come together as one collective unit.”

Each of the candidates says they’re looking ahead to what they’ll do to address issues like pay, working conditions and shortages if they’re elected.

“My plan is to sit down with the district and for us to have discussion on retaining the employees that we have, and also they need to do something about recruiting,” Williams said.

“What we want to do is move forward,” Jones said. “And like I say, you know, I cannot promise anybody anything right now. But what I can do is let them know that I’m the best man for the job and we’ll start a fresh start from the beginning.”

“I think we need to listen to all voices; everyone has a concern, and I think every concern needs to be heard,” Wilson said. “And every concern needs to be addressed. It’s, you know… that comes with us working together as one team and one strong unit.”

You may remember former SPALC president Jamie Michael quit shortly after the bus driver sickout, following almost 10 years in the position.