County employees to get three percent cost-of-living wage hike

San Juan County and its union of public employees signed a one-year labor contract Dec. 11 following one of the quickest negotiations in recent history.

The one-year deal affords members of Local 1849 a 3-percent cost-of-living increase next year while leaving all previous collective-bargaining agreements unchanged. Contract talks began Nov. 1.

John Stables, regional representative of Washington State Council of County and City Employees, said the contract’s length and rapid resolution reflect mutual uncertainty over local revenue in the near future and the current economic downturn affecting the state. The range of topics normally discussed was narrowed due to the shortfall of county income, primarily the drop in local sales tax, Stables said.

This year, swift and short-term labor agreements are common among local governments and employee unions across the state, he said.

“I’m setting records all over the place,” he said of this year’s trend. “It’s unusual overall — but typical of this year.”

Stables joined union President Lee Lehman and county Commissioners John Evans and Rhea Miller in signing the contract.

“I know this has been an extremely difficult year for everyone,” Miller said.

“I grateful to be able to sign a contract like this.” Commissioner Darcie Nielsen was unavailable for the Tuesday meeting.

Local 1849 represents roughly 155 employees in the county courthouse and Department of Public Works. It is the largest labor union in the county. But the union faced the possibility its membership would be sliced as the commissioners sought to balance the 2002 budget with cost-cutting moves that initially targeted payroll.

Although the budgets of several departments were substantially reduced – Public Health, Permit Center and Central Services - and the county reduced spending by roughly $487,000, only one county employee faces loss of job, Personnel Manager Jamie Marsden.

“We’re mostly trying reduce jobs through attrition,” said Marsden, who has resigned to become human resource manager for the city of Gillette, Wyoming beginning in mid-January. “So far, there are nine total positions

affected by reduced hours including one that will be eliminated. I know of several employees who are voluntarily reducing their hours to help others from losing hours,” she added.

Marsden said the contract gives the county and union a year to evaluate how, or if, the economy will turn around and provides an opportunity to re-negotiate in the near future. She is confident, however, that the union and county have struck a good bargain for now.

“Generally, our salaries are mid-market and competitive for most positions,” Marsden said. “I think that was an attractive feature for the union.”

The 12-month arrangement allows both the parties to come to the table next year with “a better idea where we are at,” Stables said. The increasing cost of health insurance will likely be a hot-topic of discussion. Union members pay a portion of their health coverage, but with costs rising and limited group coverage available in the islands, Stables is wary that employees may be asked to share a larger burden.

But for now, he shares Marsden’s view that the present contract is acceptable. The short-term binding agreement keeps the union at a strategic position regardless of the direction of the local economy.

“We have a mature bargaining relationship,” Stables said. “We’ve done it before and are pretty well satisfied we’ll do it again.”

— Scott Rasmussen is Staff Reporter for sanjuanjournal.com and The Journal of the San Juans. He can be reached at (360) 378-4191 ext. 13 or email.

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