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June 22. 2012 12:25AM
Impasse declared in Rockingham County contract talks
BRENTWOOD — A mediator has failed to settle a two-year-old contract dispute involving approximately 200 Rockingham County employees.
According to a statement from Teamsters Union Local 633, mediator Richard Higgins recently declared an impasse in contract negotiations between the union and the county.
The dispute involves corrections officers, dispatchers and sheriff’s deputies and supervisors from those departments, county maintenance and engineering workers, and members of the county attorney’s office. Corrections officers make up the largest group affected by the contract stalemate.
Union officials said some of workers haven’t received a pay raise in three years.
“Unlike in some of the other more widely publicized negotiations, these members have provided the taxpayers of Rockingham County with dramatic savings in the area of health care. What we are simply looking for is for the county to share in some of the savings. To date, the county has recognized savings up to $1.2 million … annually, and they are still looking to deny these working families a wage increase,” Teamsters business agent Jeff Padellaro said in a statement.
The union agreed to allow employees to be covered under a Teamsters health care plan to save the county money, but union officials said the county “balked” when it proposed using some of the savings to offer pay hikes. Padellaro has said employees would like a modest wage increase of about 2 percent.
“We recognize the status of the economy, but we find it unacceptable that the county would help themselves to these significant savings and then turn their back on their employees,” said David W. Laughton, Teamsters secretary treasurer.
Maureen Barrows, chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, said the county offered employees a “very good proposal” a couple of years ago but it was turned down.
Given the slow economic recovery and efforts to save tax dollars, Barrows said negotiating a new contract is a tough balancing act.
“We’re trying in good faith. They’re good hard-working men and women and we’re trying as best we can, but it’s tough,” she said.
The union plans to file for fact-finding once the mediator’s report is received.
Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.
According to a statement from Teamsters Union Local 633, mediator Richard Higgins recently declared an impasse in contract negotiations between the union and the county.
The dispute involves corrections officers, dispatchers and sheriff’s deputies and supervisors from those departments, county maintenance and engineering workers, and members of the county attorney’s office. Corrections officers make up the largest group affected by the contract stalemate.
Union officials said some of workers haven’t received a pay raise in three years.
“Unlike in some of the other more widely publicized negotiations, these members have provided the taxpayers of Rockingham County with dramatic savings in the area of health care. What we are simply looking for is for the county to share in some of the savings. To date, the county has recognized savings up to $1.2 million … annually, and they are still looking to deny these working families a wage increase,” Teamsters business agent Jeff Padellaro said in a statement.
The union agreed to allow employees to be covered under a Teamsters health care plan to save the county money, but union officials said the county “balked” when it proposed using some of the savings to offer pay hikes. Padellaro has said employees would like a modest wage increase of about 2 percent.
“We recognize the status of the economy, but we find it unacceptable that the county would help themselves to these significant savings and then turn their back on their employees,” said David W. Laughton, Teamsters secretary treasurer.
Maureen Barrows, chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, said the county offered employees a “very good proposal” a couple of years ago but it was turned down.
Given the slow economic recovery and efforts to save tax dollars, Barrows said negotiating a new contract is a tough balancing act.
“We’re trying in good faith. They’re good hard-working men and women and we’re trying as best we can, but it’s tough,” she said.
The union plans to file for fact-finding once the mediator’s report is received.
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Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.
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