DeKalb County, unions stuck on raises, bonuses, insurance costs

By RHONDA GLIMPSE

April 7, 2016

DeKALB – The collective bargaining battle rages on, with DeKalb County and the union representing some of its workers haggling over raises, bonuses and insurance premium costs.

“Our negotiations are not hostile. Both parties have good intent. We just don’t think the county realizes what some of their cuts could do to community members in DeKalb,” said Sara Dorner, the staff representative for American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31.

The labor union represents about 150 county nursing home workers, 60 health department employees and 34 county government personnel, according to Dorner.

The three units still are operating under the union contract that expired Dec. 31.

At issue are raises and the cost of health insurance. For nursing home workers, the county and AFSCME are at loggerheads over the county’s proposal to do away with retention and attendance bonuses, Dorner said.

The certified nursing assistants; licensed practical nurses; and housekeeping, dietary and laundry workers are paid up to $600 a year to stay in the county’s employ – in an industry known for high turnover. The workers get extra money if they don’t take unscheduled days off or have other attendance issues.

As far as raises, AFSCME has proposed a 3 percent increase in the first year of the contract, and 2.5 percent in the second and third (and final) years.

Dorner added that the county wants to eliminate the cap on workers’ health insurance premiums, which currently limits increases to no more than 20 percent.

Paul Miller, who is the head of the county’s planning and zoning department, also represents the county administration on all three of the AFSCME bargaining units.

He would not speak on particulars of the contract negotiations, except to say that they are ongoing. The county and union are scheduled to resume bargaining Monday.

“I got advice that it’s inappropriate to discuss the details of a negotiation while the negotiations are ongoing,” he said. “All parties seem to be working toward resolution.”

The county gave it’s nonunion employees 1 to 2 percent raises this year. Officials have said the county is attempting to be fiscally prudent, especially in the face of the state’s current impasse. County Board members praised the $90 million fiscal 2016 budget for not including more than $400,000 from the county’s reserve fund.