Yesterday, I posed a fact sheet about the Gracedale contract, which was approved by Northampton County Council on Thursday night. An anonymous reader complained that, while there is no wage hike this year, there will be step increases. That is inaccurate.
I've reviewed the contract, which specifically rules out step increases throughout its four-year term. It freezes wages this year. It does provide 3% wage hikes in Years 2, 3 & 4. It also includes annual COLAs (cost of living adjustments).
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
16 comments:
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3% plus a cola is very generous in
ReplyDeletetoday's workplace. Ask most any employee (not federal, state, or county affilliated), most of whom don't have pensioned or life-time health benefits but rely on 401K's and I'd bet they would kill for that deal.
A COLA is on top of the step most union employees get. When doing the PSSU contract the Adminstration agreed to terms that gave some empolyees over 9% raises with their steps added to the COLA.
ReplyDeleteThe Gracedale unions took the extra step and the county is greatful.
ReplyDeleteBernie, there is only a 3% raise a year for 3 years, with no raise this year. where are you getting your info from.
ReplyDeletewhoever is negotiating for norco should be dismissed.
ReplyDeleteCallahan will take the air out of the bloated union
Again, the point is - the non-union personnel have not had COLA since the Brackbill administration, back in 1994. The non-union personnel current step increases are 1 1/4% each. So much for equity. The non-union personnel are diminished, while the unions bask in the green.
ReplyDelete@ Bill Coker - you are absolutely correct. 3% + COLA for anybody is considered a sweet deal in this economy, especially if it's guaranteed,
ReplyDelete5:33. That is what I said. I said that wages are frozen this year. Years 2, 3, & 4 include 3% pay hikes. I wrote that twice and thought i was clear. I guess i was not clear enough.
ReplyDelete7:06, I would not say unions "bask in the green" with this contract.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that people compare the wages and benefits of union employees with those of some private sector jobs and use what the union wins for its members as negative? Granted when union contracts are overly generous and not reflective of the economy that is a problem and some give backs are called for. However, I sense that people are willing to accept a race to the bottom for private sector workers and the "union pukes" should come down there with us. Again, the financial sector of this country are the real "pukes". They caused this debacle and now they have succeeded in leaving the middle class to fight over the scraps. Those who bash unions would do well to remember why they work under protective safety and hourly wage rules among other things that unions have fought for in the past and have since become the law of the land. Do you really think that most private sector employers would provide these protections if it were not violating the law by not doing so? Of course, maybe those union bashers think like some of the regressive politicians we've heard lately that want to re-work child labor laws. It's a slippery slope my friends.
ReplyDelete"Again, the point is - the non-union personnel have not had COLA since the Brackbill administration, back in 1994. The non-union personnel current step increases are 1 1/4% each. So much for equity. The non-union personnel are diminished, while the unions bask in the green."
ReplyDeleteSounds like it is time to join a union.
Bernie its clear to me its NOT 3% and cola , its only 3% thats it nothing else no cola.
ReplyDeleteSounds to me that the Union took major concessions and received a fair increase. I would say this was a win for the County.
ReplyDelete"7:06, I would not say unions "bask in the green" with this contract."
ReplyDeleteIf your comparing 9% plus COLA for AFSCME Union vs. 3 3/4% for non-union, then the Union is definitively basking in the green. Non-union has been paying higher medical for quite some time. Unions need a reality check.
Once again there is no cola in this contract.
ReplyDeleteDo not forget everytime medical coverage goes up it also goes up for people who have retired and do not get a wage increase,per county policy.
ReplyDelete