Bargaining Update #17

The County cancelled this week’s bargaining session, so we spent our time in caucus finishing up our Compensation Counter Proposal that we’ll present during June 12th’s session. We’ll give all of the details on the proposal in next week’s update, but our bargaining observers will hear it first this Thursday.

Our Union understands the connection between Living Wages and the positive impact it would have on employees’ lives, health, and wellbeing. When our employees can thrive, so can our workplace culture, and the services we provide our community. Rising expenses and financial uncertainty are just as much a reality for our employees as it is for the County.

Here’s some of what we’ve heard from you all, and some of what we think the County should hear: 

One employee from Corrections Health says: “[A living or thriving wage] would mean that I have less money related stressors (which have gone so far as giving me a physical rash), including paying off credit card and student loan debt that is now going to be much more per month under the new federal administration.”

Another from the Library: “A living wage would greatly decrease the level of toxic stress I deal with, especially towards the end of the year […] by the time the holidays come around any cushion from [my tax return] has been used up and I’m lucky if I can cover my barest essentials…”

Lastly, an employee in Aging, Disability and Veteran Services says: “I don’t even make a living wage right now and I have been here for almost 29 years. It would be great to be able to pay all my bills and not have to worry which one doesn’t get paid in full and who can I put off so I can have groceries?”

Action Items & Events 

• We will be hosting a membership Blitz to visit potential members at their homes June 25th, 27th and 28th. We will go out in pairs for 3-4 hour shifts to talk to our coworkers about our union, our current contract campaign, the importance of their membership and ask them to join. There will be a 3 hour training on Wednesday June 25th from 9am-noon which we strongly encourage all who can participate in house visiting to attend, however, we can provide training daily before each shift. This is a great way to build our member strength and we would love your help. Please sign up and join us! If you sign up for a shift during your work day, we can cover your pay with union time. Sign up for Blitz here! If you have any questions, please reach out to the cabinet at 88cabinet@afscmelocal88.org

Our counters can be found in our published proposals folder for everyone to read in more detail. Please keep emailing the Bargaining Team at bargaining@afscmelocal88.org with your questions and concerns. If you want to watch us bargain, sign up to be a Bargaining Observer! Follow Local 88 on Instagram and Facebook and check out the AFSCME Local 88 website to stay up to date on all our Local’s news. 

We appreciate you reading our updates, observing our bargaining sessions, and repping your Union pride in Green. These actions make a difference! Stay strong and stay united!