Washington County workers mobilize for fairness

The union, which represents workers in the county\’s libraries, parks, license centers and social service centers, had never before staged a visible contract campaign – that is, until management offered its members a smaller raise than the commissioners gave themselves.

Management, according to Local 517 business agent Scott Grefe, believed when contract negotiations opened that the union was disconnected from its membership. A rally outside the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater on Jan. 16 proved otherwise.

"You\’re no longer on the outside looking in, no longer a spectator," Grefe told about 150 members who braved frigid conditions to attend the noontime rally. "You\’re a part of the process."

Carrying signs that read "When We Fight We Win" and "Affordable Health Care is a Right," the county workers affirmed their representatives\’ call for county commissioners and management to respect the jobs they do.

AFSCME members rallied in Stillwater to demand a fair contract with Washington County. St. Paul Union Advocate photos

"Who does the work?" asked Eliot Seide, AFCME Council 5 executive director, standing in the bed of a pickup truck.

"We do!" the crowd answered.

The work members of Local 517 do, according to Seide, is worth more than the county\’s current offer: raises of 2.75 percent this year, 2.25 percent next year and 2.75 percent in 2009.

"You as workers provide service to the people of Washington County, and you deserve at least as much of a raise as the county commissioners," Seide said.

What\’s more, Local 517\’s last contract garnered average raises of just 1.66 percent in each of the past three years, which lagged well behind a 7 percent increase in the cost of living in Washington County during the same time frame.

"Inflation keeps going up; gas prices and interest rates are going up," Seide said. "Your wages haven\’t kept up. It\’s time for Washington County, the employer, to step up to the plate and pay you fair wages for the work you do."

In addition to wages, health care has been a sticking point in negotiations between Local 517 and the county. Seide drew cheers when he called on management to address increasing insurance premiums, higher co-pays and greater out-of-pocket medical costs county workers have faced the past three years.

Health care is a big issue for Local 517 member Fran Brabender, a senior office support employee for the county.
"The insurance I was getting last year took over a third of my wages," Brabender said. "Last summer I couldn\’t afford prescription drugs for three weeks."

At the end of that three-week stretch, Brabender cashed her Friday paycheck and headed to the pharmacy. But before she could get there, she passed out. Her blood pressure had climbed to 200 over 120.

"Our health-care coverage keeps going up," Brabender said. "Now I\’m looking for a part-time job. But I do a good job now, and I deserve to be paid for it. People like me shouldn\’t have to go three weeks without prescriptions because we can\’t afford it."

The rally came a day before union and county representatives returned to the bargaining table.

Grefe, Local 517\’s business agent, said the two sides made progress last week, but remain apart on issues that – as the Jan. 16 rally in Stillwater proved – are important to county workers.

"We\’re not looking for a windfall," Grefe said. "We\’re looking to get what is fair. What (management) needs to hear is we need a contract we can be proud of."

Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly. Visit the Assembly\’s website at www.stpaulunions.org