Woodbury County, unions agree on wage increases

BRET HAYWORTH bhayworth@siouxcityjournal.com 

2/11/2016

SIOUX CITY | Woodbury County and a union of sheriff's deputies and a union of Secondary Roads Department crew workers have agreed on multi-year contracts that give raises running from 2.5 percent to 3 percent.

The agreements were approved Tuesday by the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, following tentative agreements previously ratified by union members.

Woodbury County Human Resources Director Ed Gilliland on Wednesday said it is a good step to set contracts that run three and four years each.

"We looked at comparable counties as laid out by the arbitrator and at the agreements that were being made across the state, and felt it was good for both sides. One of the members said both sides were not really happy with the agreement, which means the system worked and we came to an equitable agreement," Gilliland said.

The two sides began bargaining on Jan. 13, when 32 Sheriff's Office employees represented by the Communications Workers of America Local 7177 in a public meeting sought 4 percent higher wages for deputies and 5 percent for sergeants for the 2016-17 fiscal year, and 4 percent raises for all workers represented by the union in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

The county responded with an offer of 1 percent raises. Since that time, the two sides negotiated in sessions closed to the public.

The final agreement includes raises of 3 percent for the fiscal years that begin July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, and a raise of 2.75 percent during the fiscal year beginning in July 1, 2018.

The other agreement covers 35 Secondary Roads Department employees represented by the Communications Workers of America Local 7103. The union members also on Jan. 13 sought 4 percent raises, and county officials responded with a 1 percent raise offer.

The final agreement includes raises of 2.75 percent for the two fiscal years that begin July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, and raises of 2.5 percent during the two fiscal years beginning in July 2018 and July 2019.

County officials are also bargaining with workers who are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61, Local 3462.