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Union wants pay 'yardstick' By DANI DODGE The county's contract with its union employees ends June 30, but the sides remain far apart on two issues: wages and Martin Luther King Day. "The problem is we're far behind comparable counties on economic issues," said union organizer Barbara Kellogg. "Our members are looking at what is happening with commissioners' wages. They went up (in response to comparable wages in other counties.) "We should be paid by the same yardstick." The Jackson County Employees Association includes all the employees except management, sheriff's department, and employees considered "confidential employees" like executive secretaries. The past several contracts have been three-year contracts, and that is being discussed again this year. Jackson County Sheriff's Department employees are in the middle of their contract and are not in negotiations, said Dave Kanner, deputy county administrator. Monty Walters, president of the Jackson County Employees Association, said the employees have accepted less than what they deserve for the last few years because the county was in an economic crisis. But now that the county has some new federal funding making up for lost timber revenues, he thinks the county should make up the 10 percent difference in pay between Jackson County workers and employees of other comparable counties. Walters also believes the employees should get Martin Luther King Day off. He said the county needs to work toward being more inclusive of diversity. "The county could come out in favor of nonviolence and do that by embracing the Martin Luther King Holiday," Walters said. Kanner said the county is still working toward agreements with the union on all issues. "Most of the non-economic issues are done," Kanner said. "At this point we've had an exchange of economic proposals. "It's pretty normal you start out far apart and work toward each other." He said the county is considering the proposal for another holiday . "There is a cost to us to provide additional holidays and we're still working on quantifying the cost," Kanner said. Kanner said Jackson County did adjust wages up and down in the past in response to studies. He also noted that Jackson County employees' average wages are currently higher than other workers in the area Still, he said, there are no hard, fast positions yet. "We have heard the union's concerns," Kanner said. "We take them seriously and it's still an open issue in terms of negotiation." Union employees plan at least one rally before negotiations are complete to build support for their demands. Kellogg said although union employees are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they deserve, they hope to work out all the issues at the bargaining table and not by going on strike. Kanner agreed. "There's a lot of give and take that takes place in negotiations," he said. "And what's happening now is pretty normal." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.