Northampton County Council voted last night for a long-awaited non-union pay study, a performance review of Gracedale and intervention in the proposed expansion of Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township.
Council member John Goffredo initially opposed the pay study because it is limited to non-union employees. He pointed asked Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni whether a pay study of union positions would violate any collective bargaining agreement, and Spadoni responded he's conducted no reviews of these agreements in the nearly two years that this has been an issue. Goffredo went along with the pay study with the understanding that the vendor could be requested to do a union pay study at some later date.
Council members Kevin Lott, Ron Heckman and John Cusick all agreed they'd like to see a union pay study as well, but did not want to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Council then voted 8-0 to approve a $64,000 contract with Bolton Partners for a pay study of non-union workers.
With little discussion, Council also voted 8-0 to approve a Gracedale performance review with Affinity Health Care Services for the basement bargain price of $39,980.
In other business, Council voted 8-0 to amend its agenda to include a resolution for intervention in the proposed expansion of Bethlehem Landfill. A conditional use hearing is underway. Goffredo was hesitant because, as he noted, "we all make garbage," but voted to intervene.
Council member John Brown was absent.
10 comments:
On the video McClure seemed particularly agitated. He kept snarking about being recognized. He also looked so red faced it appeared he was either steamed or had a liquid dinner. What is he so pissed about? The resolution passe easily.
The pay study should include union and nonunion employees wage scales. To do otherwise is pure nonsense and a waste of taxpayer money. You can't fix the County's wage problems by doing a half assed study. The County belongs to a number of groups/agencies that have most of the information at their fingertips. Their state association is a great example. Call them and ask for the information. The personnel office belongs to a group of companies/industries that meet regularly and should also have this information at their fingertips. The Council Clerk should do his/her job and get this information without being told. He/she should make this information to all the Council/commissioners without being told. Doesn't anyone do their job?
The County doesn't obey it's own rules. They are suppose to do one every two years and are suppose to do reviews every year. They don't do them. Who holds them responsible and punishes them???? No one! If any employee did the same, the employee would be fired. What about ALL the times employees didn't get raises because the rules weren't followed. Are they going to get back pay! Of course not. CORRUPTION!
John Brown pants seems to miss a lot of meetings!
Please remind Spadoni that union workers will never oppose a pay study that comes to the obvious conclusion that the county is NOT paying us a livable wage.
Wow, let's piss away taxpayer dollars on a landfill we're all responsible for. What legal say does the county have on the expansion? Or is this just shortsighted giving in to an emotional issue that's a loser out of the gate. None of us are innocent bystanders in the need for landfills. Modern society still has consequences, and nothing is zero impact. We will have to learn how to reconcile this with our emotions.
Im not sure where in our contracts it specifies that a pay study should not be done on union employees. Is it my assumption it always falls back on career service guidelines and ultimately the charter. Contacts back in 2007 specified it will be done every 2 years. They didnt do it then either. Employee retention is awful because it doesnt pay to stay.
Doesnt matter as its non-binding.
Pay study. Whatever. It’s not rocket science. Warehouses are paying the same wage as county jobs that require a degree and training. Obviously the pay is lacking.
Pay studies are challenging as if the positions come up very short as I've seen happen then you tell everyone they're not paid as well as others and you don't have the money to give people 20 percent raises. Not good for moral. And now the unions will freak when nonunion management gets raises. No win
The reason the Administrations get away with screwing the workers and retirees is because County Council/Commissioners do not do their job, which is to be a check and balance on the administration. The Solicitor does not do his job which is to advise them on what their options are on these issues. They must sue the administration and do their job. If the solicitor does not want to do his job then they should shit-can him. It's that simple
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