According to yesterday's news release about the latest AFSCME contract, "This agreement is the latest example of the County Executive’s continued efforts to invest in frontline workers and honor the essential role of organized labor in delivering public services." It's improper for a person paid by taxpayers, not McClure, to use our tax dollars to heap praise upon him. At this point, it becomes propaganda, not information. Besides, it's incorrect. Rather than investing in frontline workers, it continues a serious wage disparity in the residual unit.
The residual unit consists of the clerks that people see when they visit the Prothy (County Civil Clerk) to get a passport or the Recorder's office with questions about their Deeds. The Prothy's office has suffered with a high turnover for many years. precisely because the salaries mere pittances. People either bid on other jobs in the county or go to the private sector. And this is very precise work. When motions or lawsuits must be filed by a certain date, it's important to have people in that office who are familiar with the process. The low pay guarantees the opposite and is no investment in frontline workers.
The county knows this. The Prothy herself has told Council at budget presentations that the salary is too low. It has been discussed and lamented by Councils and Executives alike. But the situation continues.
I believe the reason for this is because the AFSCME local that serves as the bargaining agent for the residual unit also represents too many different types of employees from too many different departments. It is looking at a package deal for all, but that just perpetuates an existing wage disparity.
County Council's pay study failed to include union workers so this wage disparity was unaddressed. But everyone knows it exists. Isn't it time to do something about it?
You are so funny BO> You expect council to do something? They are only good at sniping at each other.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing wage increases why not state it in dollar amounts instead of percentages. A 3% raise is 40 cents. Thats about $16 a week. Looks much different doesn’t it?
ReplyDeleteThe question comes down to what's best for the unions. McClure will follow that path because the unions want him in office and are willing to fund his campaign to get him there. In other words, he's bought.
ReplyDeleteAgree with above. The unions are supporting Lamont and he in turn will ensure that they will be taken care of ….as well as making sure his lapdogs follow his commands on council .
ReplyDeleteAnother problem with this deal is that if it's just COLAs, there are no steps. New hires will make the same pay as those with years of experience.
ReplyDeleteCivil is not in the residual unit.
ReplyDeleteBernieOHare: it has been part of residual for as long as I remember.
DeleteYou said Council did a wage study. When? When was it done and what are the findings? Was it made PUBLIC? How can I obtain a copy? Did the Unions agree to a wage study that included them? We have a right to know what the wage study findings are and how are the deficiencies being addressed? It is rumored that the Administration gave the unions benefits that were inappropriate and never properly negotiated. When does all this crap stop? Not until McClure goes.
ReplyDeletehttps://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2024/03/norco-council-gets-long-awaited-pay.html
DeleteIt was limited to career service and was presented last year. It is a public record.
This is so true! AFCSME represents about 65k state employees in every job category imaginable. They have no clue what job categories do what, they just want the dues money to give to national politicians. The state COs got out about 20 years ago. The state parole agents got out about 2 years ago and are now represented by FOP. Lumping in PENNDOT with a milk sanitation inspector or an EPA engineer, it’s stupid. It’s a terrible Union, the people that work for the Union make great money and do nothing for their people.
ReplyDeleteThis is just in my opinion from what I know, and I’ve heard some terrible things about this place…Northampton County is filled with corruption, nepotism, unfairness, favoritism, and the leadership and upper positions held such as McClure, Brown, and the Prothy ALL MAKE A SALARY OF OVER $100,000 PER YEAR- yet their most valued employees- the ones who do all the crap work and deal with the crazy personalities of the public, the employees that also do all the hard work- get paid between $34-36,000 per year. They want to give them 2% of the peanuts they make as their living wage increase…? Make it make sense!
ReplyDelete