The Pa. Labor Relations Board has finally selected an arbitrator in the youth care worker contract dispute between the AFSCME bargaining unit and Northampton County.
Last month, at a County Council committee meeting, Court Administrator Jermaine Greene presented a bleak picture of a staffing crisis, then in its 14th month, that is now down to 14 of 57 youth care workers.
If it continues, some juvenile offenders who need to be in detention are going to be out on the street, committing more crimes and endangering our community., as has happened in other counties. Juvenile offenders who are detained will be sent hours away from their families. This makes treatment far more difficult, disrupts families and is extremely expensive.
The county has offered youth care workers the same pay that corrections officers get, but some senior youth care workers at the top of their payscale are left out.
Since this crisis is now in its 15th month, and the delay is pretty much the fault of the Pa. Labor Relations Board, I believe the Exec and union should jointly request an expedited review.
11 comments:
You just don't get it. Do the damn pay study and let the chips fall where they may. McClure is a "BULLY". It's his way or no way. The entire County working staff is under paid. McClure doesn't believe in paying the grass roots work force a decent wage. As employees and our families, we will band together with prior employees and their families and make sure Mr. McClure is not re-elected. The morale at the courthouse is the lowest its ever been. You get what you pay for.
The CO's don't make a lot here either. Dealing with the juveniles, at times, is worse than dealing with the adult offenders. They also want Bachelor degrees so the pay should at least be equal. From what I hear the county is bleeding help in many departments and nobody seems to care. Not good.
First you are correct in saying the COs don't make much. 85% of COs are on step 4 or less on the pay scale. Now let's compare apples to apples. You have 1CO on a block with 64 inmates . 96 inmates and 2 COs on another block. I think the COs would love a 6 to 1 ratio or 8 to 1. The COs have almost the single number of inmates on murder charges and aggravated assault charges as the whole juvenile justice center. So be careful comparing the two positions. They are both highly under paid. The jail doesn't seem to have a employee shortage simply because they hire anyone today and I mean anyone. And just keep them coming because they are leaving or getting fired .
This administration does care about both places because they are behind walls and the public really can't see it or care. And most ppl incarcerated and their families don't vote so they don't care.
But make sure Lamont and chuck get their friends pensions through the county. 5 years and out. Maybe throw in a Dutch spring for a little icing on the cake.
would it be such a bad thing to separate these darlings from their parents? I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say their parents are less than ideal role models.
You’re preaching to choir lol.
How many steps were you offered in the past 8 years, but your union “leadership “ voted no. Your not making the case when you could now be a step 7 or higher
2 steps in last two CBAs. That's what they offered and what
the COs got. Those two CBAs took up 5 years. The CBA before that went to arbitration because with that CBA the administration only offered 1 step. The COs got no steps in arbitration. And that was a 3 year deal. So the COs would only be 1 step higher if they didn't go to arbitration and try for more. Not even more what they derseved.That is the last 8 years. There you go. If you have other info please tell.
Get to work in your gravy job and stop trying to rip off the poor taxpayer who has to pay your already exorbitant salary and benefits!
It is not difficult to obtain employee pay scales from other counties. so, dont waste money on an outside pay study. secondly, why has court administration waited so long to be requesting pay increases? Seems like poor leadership at the very top. stop comparing co and youth care workers. so many differences. the only same thing is their schedule of working every other weekend. Finally, the jcc started hiring part time personnel. this should have happened years ago. administration should be asking state to go back to regulation that allows 20 % of staff do not need 60 college credits. state is dropping college requirements for other positions. Greene says adding 5 workers will allow for 12 beds to be open. doesnt make sense to me that would require 280 hours of employee staffing. hence, you need at least 7 employes as well as a couple more to cover sick, vacation time. Person overseeing the place should havea masters degree per regulations. who is that ?
To answer the two questions asked. First Mr. Greene was the person in the past saying the employees didn't need a raise at the jcc. He fought for them to not get steps or raises.
Second with the union doing a payscale study on their own. the administration just says the union fudged the numbers. A independent study would show the disgrace of how the employees of northampton County are treated. Unless you're one of Lamont or chucks friends. Hell Lamont will even throw in a quarry if your a good friend.
Didn't think anyone would reply to his lie about being on step 7. Probably Lamont or chucky making that statement. They enjoy tell falsehoods
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