In a marathon two hour and 15 minute public comment period at the Tuesday Barry County Commissioner’s meeting, 45 people spoke on the current negotiations with the county administration and the Barry County Courthouse Employees Association representing courthouse employees.
The negotiators, County Administrator Michael Brown, Commissioner Ben Geiger, members of the association, an attorney and department heads with employees in the association met in one session; it goes to mediation in December. The impasse is about a classification and compensation study by Segal Waters that found Barry County employees were “drastically underpaid,” when compared to several nearby municipalities.
Commissioners sat silent as they listened to the speakers negative comments. Each speaker, from judges to long time employees, to department heads supporting their staff, made virtually the same points; county wages and benefits are too low and wages and benefits lost during the last eight years has make working for the county extremely difficult to support a family.
Most employees said they are very proud of the work they do and the people they work with, and although some said their jobs are extremely stressful when dealing with irate people and it negatively affects their home life, they love their jobs and the services they provide. Some spoke of being single providers who are doing “more for less” on their jobs and working two or three jobs to support their families. Many said the county has wasted $90,000 of taxpayer money on a classification and compensation study that they had no intention of using.
Suggestions on how to fund raises were offered; taking one half of the excess that departments turn back to the county at the end of the year that now go into four different permenent funds, or the anticipated $200,000 increase in recording fees in the Register of Deeds office that would otherwise go into the general fund in the next year. //
Many speakers berated the commission for making county employees feel unappreciated, unimportant and disrespected for their work and dedication; they demanded the commission treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve and to negotiate a fair and equitable contract in good faith.
A common concern was that new employees work at the county only to get training and experience and then leave for higher paying jobs elsewhere. The county will lose many more significant employees if they don’t act now, several said.
The spending of the commission was brought up several times, with speakers saying the county spends millions on facilities instead of good wages for the people who provide the services a county delivers.
Julie Ingle, president of the association covering 70 courthouse employees, said the compensation study and reopening the contract for wages in 2017 was part of the last contract.
“They made sure it was an accurate and fair study, and now we’re told it was flawed and there is no way to implement it. You spent $90,000 for something that the county doesn’t want.”
Judge Michael Schipper said he knew the employees were underpaid. “I just didn’t know they were that much underpaid. The (Segal Waters) study said employees are 15 to 20 percent underpaid…it’s time to roll up our sleeves and fix this.”
Tammy Pennington, COA director, said the dispute goes beyond the 70 courthouse employees; it affect some 200 county employees. They know the county can’t implement a suggested 13 percent wage increase 100 percent in the next year or two years, but she said, “you value your employees, the way to show you value them is to make a goal. Put together a plan; put in steps to reach the goal.”
Geiger issued the following statement after the meeting:
“I have great respect for Barry County's hardworking employees; they provide valuable service to our taxpayers every single day. I look forward to working through this bargaining process, and finding solutions that strengthen our county.”
