Lawyers in AG’s Office May Unionize

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane looks on before newly elected members of the Pennsylvania Legislature are sworn in, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Here’s another headache for Attorney General Kathleen Kane: The lawyers in her office may unionize.

“The office’s 189 attorneys – minus executive-level staff – have been invited to a May 27 meeting with representatives of the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania union in Harrisburg to discuss general ‘workplace rights’ issues,” PennLive reports. “A flyer announcing the meeting and obtained by PennLive promises ‘a frank discussion’ about the following topics: voice at work; job security; and protection against arbitrary treatment at work.”

It’s certainly an interesting workplace. The Inquirer reported earlier this week that Kane has given her new chief of staff, Jonathan Duecker, authority over personnel decisions in the office. This, after reports that Kane’s HR office had recommendeded firing him because of allegations of sexual harassment.

PennLive adds: “Midstate labor lawyer Irwin Aronson said he has been retained to the attorneys through an organization process which, if successful, could see a large majority of the office’s professional legal staff knit into a collective bargaining unit by years’ end.”