Both Easton Patch and The Express Times already have reports about Northampton County Council's decision last night to reject, 6-2, an arbitrated union contract affecting 62 court professionals, including probation officers, pretrial officers and accountants. It included a 4.5% payhike in 2010, followed by 2.5% increases in 2011 and 2012, along with $1000 and $500 across-the-board salary increases in 2011 and 2012. Council members had just finished listening to a R.N from the private sector tell them she had seen no raises over the last ten years.
Although Bruce Gilbert was absent, the remaining six Republicans unanimously rejected the contract. Democrats Ann McHale and Lamont McClure voted yes.
This might be the first time a Northampton County Council has ever rejected an arbitrated contract. It might also be the last time because the County is bound by arbitration.
17 comments:
So these rocket scientists voted to break the law. this included Ron Angle and the Rev Dowd. anything to get a vote from the wacky baggers. Unbelievable. But not unexpected from this bunch.
Sounds like layoffs are coming to this unit to pay for such a sweet generous arbitration award. Hope those who are most senior will like to see the less senior ones leave while enjoying their unheard of raises in the worst economy since the Great Depression. There is only so much money in the taxpayer kitty to pay for salary, wages and benefits. As a Northampton County taxpayer, I am opposed to any tax increases to pay for salaries and benefits of already overpaid and under worked County employees.
And yet nothing was mentioned when the Council approved the budget for the last two years which included a raise for the non-union employees.
stop the greedy union pukes in their pursuit to gouge the county even more
No RN in their right mind would stay in the same job for 10 years with out a raise. Either it was a cushy job with nice benefits, or they didn't have any experience to go elsewhere.
1. There is no way there are going to be layoffs in the Courts. Not when a large percentage of the Court offices are subsidized by the State and Federal governments, costing little to the County. Stoffa does not want to tangle with the Judges, nor do I feel he has any desire to. Use some realism before you go spouting off about layoffs.
2. You can be opposed to tax increases all you like. Hell, I'm a taxpayer too. However, the raises in this contract are mediocre at best. Before you start whining about how much your taxes are going to increase for the "overpaid and under worked County employees," why don't you take a look at the pay scales and see how little we actually make. For those of us with college degrees, the compensation is pathetic. When the economy is good, we earn the same rate of pay as we do when the economy is bad. Those of you in the private sector have things called bonuses, stock options, performance based raises. We don't have anything like that.
3. I agree that there are many under worked County employees. I agree that there do need to be layoffs. As a Union member, I'm not even suggesting they start at the top. I suggest that each department be evaluated to see which positions can be eliminated, because in my office alone, there are plenty. I can only imagine what this list would number if the entire County were properly evaluated.
4. Binding interest arbitration is just that, binding. County council may have wanted to put their foot down and look good for the public, but they just screwed up royally. There are ways to save taxpayer dollars and to evaluate employees and their positions, but going against something that is going to happen in the first place, that's just wasting everyone's time, and eventually WILL waste more taxpayer dollars on legal fees.
Anon 8:04 is the epitome of a union worker. Cry us taxpayers a river. The Council did the right thing.
i thought arbitration was binding ?
Just one question is County Council that ignorant that they don't understand what binding arbitration is or just arrgogant to think they don't have to follow the deceison of a third party arbitrator.
8:04 said
"For those of us with college degrees, the compensation is pathetic."
Most college grads understand they are are free to leave and pursue less pathetic compensation.
I would never say the compensation is pathetic, and the benefits (health and retirement) make up for the difference in pay from other areas.
I understand about the economy and how many industries are not giving any raises at all. I do want to point out that County Council has agreed to pay increases in 2010 and 2011 for the Prison union as well as the non-union employees. Also, if you actually knew how the contract reads, you would see that the 2010 increase goes into effect on the date your anniversary. If your anniversary is in September, you actually took a pay freeze for 9 months that year.
And for the union puke individual: I'll assume you work in industry. Years ago when you were getting bonuses and huge increases every year why didn't you attend any meetings and ask why the Government employees were only getting 3% raises. You didn't hear any complaints from us.
Actually most Court related positions do not receive State or Federal dollars. Most of those positions are right out of the County taxes. Other than that detail I generally agree with your argument.
anon 5:17
u should not assume anything. but u can be assured the the union pigs in norco are mostly lazy and totally greedy
So they voted to spend more taxpayer money on more court proceedings to decide if they could vote that way or not?
Novel idea...as you said they are bound by the arbitration.
Basically their vote doesn't mean a thing.
Bernie what is it about binding arbitration the county does not understand? Thats right council took a vote not to pass the contract,this is the biggest joke i have ever seen.This vote only trys to make them look good to the voters after all election day is right around the corner,hmmm! sounds very irregular to me.People of Northampton County get out and vote try to change the face of your county and rid yourselves of this clown council that says they represent you!!
Advice:
Don't argue with those who call you union pukes and or under worked. These people probably don't have very good private sector jobs if any, or they have criminal records which preclude them for working for the county.
Second, that nurse that didn't get a raise must have had some issues.
Nurses and all caregivers are hot commodities. Especially in the last decade. My wife was offered a 20,000 dollar signing bonus for a gig at a hospital just over the border in NJ. The stipulation was she had to sign a two year contract, the money would have been prorated throughout the two year term.
I say would have been as she didn't take the job, because she gets......GREAT RAISES EVERY YEAR.
I don't know where Ron found that nurse.
Everyone needs to look around the county court house complex to see all the money that is being wasted. did we need all these new buildings? did the juvenile center need to really be expanded? No, that was all to bring in more money. the creation of the DUI program which will bring in $250-$400,000 a year. do we need to give a face lift to the court house in bad economic time? keep repairing a crappy parking deck? These probation officers are under paid for what they deal with and have to work with on a daily basis and be glad they are one of the lowest paid in their class of counties, because then a concern for tax increase for salaries would be on the table.
Post a Comment