Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects reconsideration of union order

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) -- Municipal workers in Lawton are hailing a state Supreme Court decision reaffirming their right to unionize.<br/><br/>Erlene Maroon, a records clerk in the Lawton Police Department,

Wednesday, September 20th 2006, 6:09 am

By: News On 6

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) -- Municipal workers in Lawton are hailing a state Supreme Court decision reaffirming their right to unionize.

Erlene Maroon, a records clerk in the Lawton Police Department, says the decision is a victory for worker freedom. Maroon says she looks forward to partnering with city management to improve city jobs and services.

In 2005, Lawton and other cities persuaded the state's highest court to overturn the law, which grants municipal employees in cities over 35,000 the freedom to unionize. But the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees urged the court to reinstate the law earlier this year.

In June, Lawton officials again asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court to repeal the law. The court rejected that request Monday.