Local unions representing more than 4,000 Hennepin County employees pledged unity as they began contract talks Monday.

Locals 34, 552, 1719, 2822, 2864 and 2938 of AFSCME held a noontime rally at the Hennepin County Government Center to officially kick off their contract campaign. County employees were joined by supporters from other area unions at the event.

"Our union is united to make a difference," AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide told the crowd. Standing with him were union members holding signs with the contract campaign's theme: "United To Make A Difference."

The union locals, all part of Council 5, presented an opening proposal to the county that calls for salary increases of 7 percent in each of the two years of the contract.

Hennepin County employees gathered outside the Government Center Monday to kick off their contract campaign.

Cliff Poehler, treasurer of Council 5 and himself a county employee, said improvements in compensation are long overdue.

"We've taken zeroes (in wage increases) for the last three years," he said. "We've done our part for the county and now it's time for the county to do its part for us."

Both Poehler and Seide noted that county employees perform many valuable public services, from running the libraries, supervising criminals on probation to providing and administering health and human services.

"Hennepin County works because Hennepin County employees do," said Seide.

Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide said the union locals are unified in seeking better wages and working conditions.

For more information
Visit the Council 5 website, www.afscmemn.org and the websites for Local 34, www.afscmelocal34.org, Local 552, www.afscme552.org and Local 2822, www.afscme2822.org