When it comes to public safety, strength in numbers and solidarity can literally mean the difference between life and death. That lesson is not lost on both the uniformed officers and the civilians working at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (“DCSO”) as both new recruits and long-time veterans have been joining SEIU over the last several months thanks in no small part to Robert Gilmer, a Sheriff’s Deputy who has brought new energy to the DCSO. Over the last several months, Gilmer has worked with SEIU organizers to cultivate a new wave of union activism that has resulted in dozens of new members and some hard-earned union victories.

In addition to the recent victory on seniority rights we reported on, the union was able to get three officer suspensions waived. “The employees are seeing first-hand how the Union can get things done if we are strong, united, and vigilant,” Gilmer says. “I am proud of what we have accomplished at DCSO in 2010 and expect to see even bigger gains for the members in 2011”.