SUNBURY - "Fairness," "quality service" and "serving the vulnerable" were some of the slogans displayed by approximately 15 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 668, who conducted an informational picket in Cameron Park in rainy, chilly weather Friday.
"We're here because these workers do what others don't want to do," said Allie Samsel, SEIU business agent from Harrisburg, who organized Friday's two-hour picketing that began at about 11 a.m. "They are caregivers and we don't feel they've been treated respectfully."
Samsel said SEIU represents approximately 160 Northumberland County employees in the Area Agency on Aging, Children and Youth Services, Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Drug and Alcohol departments.
She said the picketers, who provided information about the services they provide, want county officials to negotiate in good faith. The union members are in negotiations with the county for a new contract. The three-year pact they are currently working under expired June 30, 2010.
Samsel and the picketers declined comment about what the union is seeking in the new contract and the stumbling blocks that have prevented an agreement.
"We want to do our bargaining at the table, not in the press," Samsel said. "We plan on sticking to the ground rules by not talking to the media about specifics involved with a new contract. This is only an informational picket."
Samsel said the union hopes to agree on a collective bargaining agreement whenever possible. "This is not a one-sided process and there's always light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
She commended the picketers for peacefully demonstrating during Friday's rainy weather.
"There aren't as many here as we would have hoped because of the weather, but the ones who are here truly have their heart in it," Samsel said.
Other slogans displayed by picketers as they walked around Cameron Park under umbrellas were: "We value all our citizens." "We care for children in need, trouble and crisis." "Responsible for public safety." "Who do you call in a crisis?" "We take care of the elderly." "We are public service professionals." "We have families too." "Public money for public service."
Latest raises
Northumberland County Human Resources Director Joseph Picarelli, who represents the county in ongoing negotiations with SEIU Local 668, reserved comment about the picketing.
Picarelli, who has abided with an agreement reached with the union not to comment about specifics involved with the ongoing negotiations, provided The News-Item with the wages earned by members of SEIU, Local 668, under the current contract that went into effect in 2007.
16 years of service plus - 4.5 percent increase in 2007 and 3.5 percent increase in 2008 and 2009.
10 to 15 years of service - 4 percent increase in 2007 and 3.5 percent increase in 2008 and 2009.
5 to 9 years of service - 3.5 percent increase in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
1 to 4 years of service - 3 percent increase in 2007 and 3.5 percent increase in 2008 and 2009.
Start to 1 year - 2.5 percent increase in 2007 and 3.5 percent increase in 2008 and 2009.
The starting rate increased by 2.5 percent in 2008 and 2009.
At the discretion of management, an employee may be started at any pay step above the beginning pay step for his or her classification based on the employee's prior experience and/or advanced academic degree.
Commissioners comment
Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi, who has been challenging leaders of the nine unions that represent county workers to pay more toward their health care insurance, previously stated, "The union must come to the table and negotiate in good faith."
He said Thursday about the then-pending picket that the costs for county health care insurance has risen $2.5 million in the past two years. Also, the county must pay $2 million toward the public employees pension.
"Thank God this board saved $10 or $11 million in the last three years," he said, a number that includes the sale of the former Mountain View Manor. "Next year, we don't have any options. We can't go to the taxpayers for $4.5 million."
Commissioner Frank Sawicki said, "The union members are within their rights to picket. The county wants to negotiate in good faith in all of the union contracts that remain unsettled."
Commissioner Merle Phillips, who said he was unaware of the picketing, reserved comment. An arbitration ruling in October 2010 granted employees in the county adult and juvenile probation departments and domestic relations office $70,000 in "retro" pay. The ruling prompted members of Teamsters Local 764 to withdraw charges of unfair labor practices it filed against the county.
On Dec. 10, 44 employees covered under the union contract began receiving the pay, which was retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010.
The terms of the new contract for the probation and domestic relations departments require employees to pay more for health care. Costs rose 14.3 percent for single coverage (from $35 to $40 per month), 71.4 percent for two-party coverage ($35 to $60 per month) and 100 percent for family coverage ($35 to $70 per month) in 2010 and increase an additional $100 per month for 2011 and 2012.
Rates for non-union employees approved in 2010 include $108 for a single person, $175 for two-party coverage, and $241 for family.
Northumberland County Human Resources Director Joseph Picarelli said negotiations are continuing with members of the Pennsylvania Social Services Union, which covers approximately 150 workers in the Human Services Department. Their contract expired June 30, 2010.
He said 77 members of AFSCME Residual 86, who include county transportation, weatherization, maintenance and clerical employees, were scheduled to vote on accepting a new contact Friday. The union members, who have been working under a three-year contract that expired Dec. 31, 2009, rejected the last offer by the county on a 38-2 vote on Oct. 28, 2010.
Picarelli said Teamsters Local 764, which covers about 10 employees, including assistant district attorneys, assistant public defenders and special counsel, has gone to arbitration over its contract, which also expired Dec. 31, 2009. He said the county and union are awaiting a ruling on an arbitration hearing held Feb. 23.
He said an arbitration hearing will be held Tuesday for 17 employees in the sheriff's department and prothonotary and register and recorder offices who are covered under AFSCME Local 86. Their contract expired Dec. 31, 2009.
Picarelli previously said the major issues in all the contracts are wages and health care benefits.