Local Government TV

Friday, August 16, 2019

Probation Officers and the Horseshoe Nail

We've all heard the "For Want of a Nail" proverb, in which a kingdom is ultimately lost because something as seemingly unimportant as a horseshoe nail was missing. A two percent raise for Northampton County probation officers is a small matter. Making it retroactive to the beginning of the year, which was done for all other career service workers, would cost the county just $69,982. Treating all career service workers the same is clearly the fair thing to do. But last night, Northampton County refused to be fair, disappointing about 64 court-appointed professionals This might just be that horseshoe nail. This trifle could result in dire consequences for Executive Lamont McClure and the Council members who voted against making the raise retroactive.

McClure relied on 7,000 votes from county workers and their families to ensure his election. I question whether those votes will be there when he seeks a second term. Morale is already terrible, nearly everywhere. Deputy sheriffs are walking on eggshells, afraid of the Sheriff McClure appointed. Corrections officers are very unhappy with an arbitration award that failed to address mandated overtime and constant turnover. 911 workers are underpaid and overworked. There are 11 vacancies in Children and Youth, nine of which are caseworkers. Gracedale is ready to revolt over understaffing. In the face of all these problems, the last thing the county should want to do is aggravate another block of employees. But that's precisely what happened last night.

As I told you yesterday, Northampton County's court-appointed professionals were represented by AFSCME. This never made any sense. They serve at the pleasure of the court, and no union can protect them if a judge decides to can one or all of them for any reason, even a bad one. That's the nature of at-will employment.

These court-appointed professionals petitioned last year to have their union decertified. This happened on January 21 of this year when the union agreed to an amicable divorce.

At the beginning of this year, all career service employees received a two per cent wage hike. But not probation officers. They continued receiving the same salaries they were getting at the end of the year.

Exec McClure recently decided to recommend that they get a two percent payhike like the other career service employees. That's only fair. But the raise only goes into effect on July 28 instead of being effective at the beginning of the year, like it was for all other career service employees. That's unfair.

So far as I can tell, the reason July 28 was picked is because it corresponded with a pay period. So you'd think that when court-appointed professionals asked to make it retroactive, McClure would readily agree. But he sat mute as two Council members who double as union agents bashed probation officers for daring to leave the union. I refer to Council members Kevin Lott, business agent for the Carpenters' Union; and Bill McGee, business agent for the Insulators' Union.

Lott's words at a committee meeting make clear he wanted to punish these workers:
"They made the choice to leave the union and that was their choice ... . They could have stayed there and got what was offered. Now the employees are coming back six months later and are saying, 'Forget your budget. We made a choice but we don't really like that choice' ... I think there was [sic] some bad choices made by employees here."
McGee and Lott both said this group of workers would have to live with the consequences of their decision to leave the union.

Before the vote last night, about ten probation officers were in the audience, making me wonder if I failed yet another urine test. Fortunately, they were not there for me, but to see how their government would treat them. Arky Colon, a pretrial services officer and 29-year veteran, asked Council to "do the right thing."

Council member John Cusick tried. He offered an amendment to make the raise retroactive to the beginning of the year.

"These folks here make up the backbone of the court system," said Cusick. He argued that the pay should be made retroactive to the beginning of the year.

Council member Peg Ferraro seconded. "I strongly feel that these employees are being punished for leaving the union. I also feel it's an affront to these loyal employees ... " She suggested those who opposed retroactivity should "take off their union hats and put on their 'Do what's right for our employees hat.'"

Agreeing with Cusick and Ferraro, Council member Bob Werner said that even if these probation officers made a bad decision, "that doesn't mean they should receive economic hardship."

Council President Ron Heckman also sided with court-appointed professionals, saying they were "wards of the county" once their union was decertified. He heard no strong reason why July 28 was the date the increase should become effective. Actually,noreason at all was offered.

Union agents Lott and McGee of course continued to be vindictive and punish probation officers for daring to leave the union. They were joined by Council members Tara Zrinski and Lori Vargo Heffner.

Zrinski, who is running for State Representative against Marcia Hahn, noted that she's never been a member of a union. But clearly, she wants their money for her campaign.

Heffner claimed to have done her own investigation, which consisted of a phone call to Human Resources Director Elizabeth Kelly. This "investigation" included no calls to probation officers. She made clear what motivated her when she told another member of Council, after the meeting, that she resented probation officers for making more money than she does as a social worker.

Perhaps Kevin Lott can tell her she made a choice and has to live with it.

Cusick's amendment failed by a 4-4 vote. Cusick, Ferraro, Werner and Heckman voted Yes. The others voted against the workers.

Council member Matt Dietz, who almost certainly would have sided with the workers, was unfortunately absent. He was busy stuffing backpacks for Backpack Pals in Bethlehem.

Sitting quietly throughout this exchange was Executive Lamont McClure. He could have spoken up for the workers, but did not. He could have told them that the July 28 date was used because it corresponded with a pay period, but did not. His silence was a message in and of itself.

He may think he's headed to an overwhelming re-election. That won't happen if he continues to alienate his workforce. He can ask former Executive John Brown how that worked out for him. McClure, who railed against vacancies in Children and Youth, now has just as many as Brown did.

41 comments:

  1. Sort of weird. The new people voted no and the old people voted yes. What's up with that!

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  2. BOH for County Executive. Let's make Northampton County Great Again!

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  3. 12:41, the more experienced Council members have institutional knowledge and respect county workers. The less experienced are more interested in promoting themselves and agendas that have nothing to do with county government. They showed that they have no respect for the workers. Lamont McClure played this too carefully. He tried to stay out of it, but that went the wrong message to workers and emboldened the rookies who always think they know everything.

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  4. 1:19, McClure has been excellent as Exec, but really blew this one. This was a tipping point with the workforce. He has now lost them, and needs to change this.

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    1. Bernie, "he's been an excellent exec" but you just enumerated all the ways he's failing the county employees. Better be careful of your response here or you'll lose access to the inner sanctum and have to start giving unbiased accounts of this administration.

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  5. Hefner has a high opinion of herself. Can't believe she holds what people at the county make against them because she can't make that. Maybe she should try to get a job as a probation officer.

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  6. At 2am, I think some of them are intimidated by McClure.

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  7. When on Council, Lamont was a sleepy, shiftless no-show who essentially stole his councilman's salary. Now, when he deigns to show up, he turns everything he touches to dog shit. We never knew how good we had it when he was only stealing a few hours every few weeks and not showing up. I prefer the Shiftless Lamont to the remade, Shitful Lamont.

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  8. It’s simple Cusick is up for re-election

    Don’t be fooled

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  9. I am a retired county employee, I worked in corrections for over 20 years. I have seen change in county leadership many times some good some not so good. In this matter the decision to give retro pay to the Probation Officers should never have went to County Council this could have been done between McClure and his HR Director. I do have a question the Probation Officers are at will to the courts why wasn't the Court Admin. fighting for his employees. This does not seem to be a money issue it seems to be McClure needs a life line and some help from the unions and a pay back will come later. Also lets not hit McClure so hard but hard enough he has a cabinet to advise him as to what should be done and they need to be held accountable. I am a hard democrat and the only reason McClure was elected is because nobody liked the other guy.

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  10. The "at-will" employees who decertified their membership with the union don't get the same benefit of retroactive pay.

    Perhaps if they joined together as a group and tried to come to an agreement with Council about retroactive pay... Oh, wait. That's right... That's what a union does.

    They gained extra take home pay by not paying dues and lost a 2% raise for 7 months that others received who take home less because of dues.

    I consider it a wash. Time to move on. McClure is still in good political shape.

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  11. Council's responsibility should be to all employees of the County, not just the unions they represent. Basically, this is the main problem of Government, the elected individuals cater the special interests rather than management of the Government the best way forward.

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  12. Hey A-Hole, your are pretty much suggesting McClure purchase votes in the next election with pay raises. Taxpayers are sick of this crap.

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  13. I guess we just confirmed the TRUE leader of the County: AFSCME.

    This should never have come down to donors dictating results. It should have come down to fairness for all employees. For those that will call us crybabies and every other name: The former Court Appt Professional Group is already paid much less than Career Service employees at the same pay scale level. The union couldn't/wouldn't help with this, so we reacted accordingly.

    Try working a job that is paid $5000-$7000 less then the exact same job as a career service employee. Throw in not getting the 2% raise when the other non-union employees got theirs and maybe you can see how we could be a bit frustrated.

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  14. "I am a retired county employee, I worked in corrections for over 20 years. I have seen change in county leadership many times some good some not so good. In this matter the decision to give retro pay to the Probation Officers should never have went to County Council this could have been done between McClure and his HR Director"

    That would be completely illegal. Under the Home Rule Charter, it is Council who sets the wages. Under Brown, Council very nearly sued when it discovered he was setting wages himself.

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  15. "I do have a question the Probation Officers are at will to the courts why wasn't the Court Admin. fighting for his employees."

    This is a good observation. He should have been there, or better, one of the judges.

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  16. "Hey A-Hole, your are pretty much suggesting McClure purchase votes in the next election with pay raises."

    What I am saying is that employees and their families account for about 7,000 votes. They voted McClure bc they hated the way they were treated under Brown. But McClure's failure to do a salary study or address many of their complaints means that he is putting himself in jeopardy with those voters. Why are corrections officers being mandated 20 at a time? Why is it that nearly every woman who works there develops serious health issues? Why are 911 workers so unhappy? Isn't it time to address Todd Weaver? What about the 11 vacancies in CYF? McClure held a press conference to complain when there were just 10. When are people in Civil going to be paid correctly? Why are deputy sheriffs walking on eggshells? Why are pay inequities being ignored?

    There is fundamental unfairness in the way workers are paid,and that exists even among employees within the same departments Instead of paying lip service to a salary study, it is time to start. McClure does not want to do this bc it costs too much and here will e lots of personnel appeals board appeals, but you get what you pay for. It is time to start the process.

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  17. Overall, he has been an excellent executive. He has made lots of changes that are good for the county. He is more transparent and accountable than anyone I have seen in tat office. I support and respect him. But he needs to start paying closer attention to his workforce and their concerns. I understand he can't do everything at once, but needs to realize employees are at a breaking point. My experience is that once morale is ruined, there are about 15% you never get back.

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  18. "Better be careful of your response here or you'll lose access to the inner sanctum and have to start giving unbiased accounts of this administration."

    In case you have not noticed, I call things the way I see them. I make no claim to being unbiased, but always try to be honest.

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  19. I have been retired for almost 13 years and some things never change. I attend the retirees luncheons as does McClure. We are more than 1,000 now and we all have families and we vote. We got screwed by every Administration going back into the 80's. We vote and it won't be for McClure. Yes he gave us a cost of living allowance but he shafted us again on our benefits. He will not get our vote.

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  20. Bernie,

    Your comment regarding the deputy sheriffs is the 1st I am hearing anything about that department since Johnson took over. Thought he was always a great guy. Hopefully it is not from him? And I agree with you; once you lose the workforce and their trust, it makes for a crappy work environment.

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    1. If you haven't heard anything you haven't been listening.

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  21. Lott and McGee are not looking out for the voters in their district or the good of the County. They are bias for their Unions and their liberal Demo thinking. They need to go. You’re on target that Zrinski is looking for the Union money and votes to replace Hahn. On her Facebook Page she writes “Friends, you know my passion for environmental, social and economic justice. I am so happy to be a Northampton County Council Woman but….”. Where is her social and economic justice regarding her recent vote. She appears to be the AOC of the Demo’s on Council. With her antics on Council she will be a disaster for the County and State as Representative.

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    1. Zarinski is a disaster in the making and the union hacks are deplorable.

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  22. Can the amendment be brought up again for consideration when Matt Dietz returns? That should fix things and neutralize the paid-off goons.

    The council goons are a perfect example of why unions are simply despised by the overwhelming majority of Americans. If they could get away with roughing up POs, threatening their families, slashing some tires and torching a few things - they would. They've simply taken their disgusting and hateful tactics mainstream.

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  23. Let's not paint unions or all their members with the BS broad brush that they are corrupt and unpopular. Unions are why we have safer work standards, work day standards, minimum wage guarantees etc. And when union workers get better pay it typically drives ALL pay scales upward. Are unions perfect...no. Do they protect the few bad apples in a work force....too often. That's my biggest problem with any union. To truly protect your own, you need to self police in a fair and agreed upon way. Otherwise, you give fuel to people like those on this blog who bash unions (most likely because they were never in one).

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  24. I agree completely with you. I believe unions are very necessary but do not believe people should be punished for being non-union.

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  25. Bernie, I don't understand the hardline on the date? Why not start it when they left the union, why the July start date? Did McClure explain his reasoning to you? Did you ask him? I don't get it. The council should think for itself.

    The entire thing is strange. I watched your video and it sounded like the one Director was just spouting all kinds of numbers in a random way.

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  26. He did not explain his reasoning but another official told me they just chose a date that corresponded with the most recent period. So o do not think McClure consciously was out to punish these workers. That was union agents Lott and McGee. Where McClure went wrong, at least in my view,is that he should have said something. He knows this was vindictive.

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  27. Some people are cut out to be in positions of authority and some are not. Its a shame for the employees that McClure and the courts set them up and some council people fell for it. Their union history should not have even been an issue. Shameful.

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  28. Some people are made for elected office and some are not. Not a place for follow the leader types. McClure and courts set these employees up and some council members fell for it.

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  29. In this case the charter would not have been violated the 2 percent was agreed upon, as to the effective date it did not need approval of council. McClure and his people dropped the ball. You need to stop using the charter when you want it is out dated and most of it is nonsense.

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  30. The charter would not have been violated as the wage bump was already agreed upon, as far as the retro McClure could have made it back to January the charter does not address this matter. And even if you are right (but not) McClure should have went to council with the complete package and had the 2 percent and retro back to January all in one if he truly wanted to make all equal. This is not a money issue it is all about union hacks getting their payback. So stop using the charter as a way out every time we don't like what is happening as the charter is a waste of paper. Plain and simple McClure and his people dropped the ball on this one. And the courts should be ashamed for not taking the part of their employees. The DA would not have ditched his work force !!!

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  31. “...do not think McClure consciously was out to punish these workers...Where McClure went wrong....he should have said...”

    Unless he was absent, not paying attention, or asleep during that portion of the meeting - which you clearly indicate is not so - that was a conscious decision. As a PI lawyer, he ought to know the law holds people responsible for the natural and probable consequences of their actions. So will the voters.

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  32. "In this case the charter would not have been violated the 2 percent was agreed upon, as to the effective date it did not need approval of council."

    You are incorrect. Once they left the union, these workers were in limbo. Their wages had yo be set, and the only entity that can do that is council.

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  33. "And the courts should be ashamed for not taking the part of their employees."

    In fairness to the courts, I believe this all happened while the PJ is away. As I think about it, I am fairly certain he would have stood up for the POs.

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  34. Incidentally, I've enabled comment moderation because of troll attacks.

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  35. Mr. O'Hare I think the point people are trying to make is the Admisntration designed the pay scale and the effective date and presented it to county council for their vote. Only county council can set pay rates but McClure could have easily made the effective date January instead of July. Any way you try to parse it, it was McClure who responsible for putting council on the spot. As you said he was conspicuously silent during the discussion. He is normally butting in to every council discussion but on this one he sits quite.

    This is on the Admisntration. he picked the effective date and asked council to approve. He bears the responsibility for the union payback to slap these employees. It was a low moment in his reign.

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  36. I accidentally deleted a comment criticizing McClure in a constructive way. Sorry. Resubmit.

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  37. So, they will just have to wait until January 1st for another Raise. 2 Raises in a 6 month period is not bad?? Now if the County would just go back to using the Step raises like they are suppose to it would please many of the couty workers.

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