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75 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, August 28, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 13, 2004 County workers face tradeoff in new contract By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Jackson County workers will get a 3.5 percent raise next month, but will have to pick up an increased share of their health-insurance costs under a tentative agreement between the county and a union representing 660 of its employees. The county and Service Employees International Union Local 503 reached agreement at 8 p.m. Friday after a daylong negotiating session, said Lonny Morgan, a county building maintenance worker who headed the union bargaining team. Negotiations on a new three-year contract began in January. The current contract expired June 30, but was extended to July 31 while bargaining continued. "This was a tough agreement," Morgan said. "After considering the county’s financial position, this tentative agreement is the best we could hope for." The agreement provides for a 3.5 percent wage increase effective Aug. 1. The county proposed a 3 percent increase, while union officials asked for 3.6 percent. Advertisement In each of the next two years, workers will get a raise based on a West Coast cost-of-living index. The agreement maintains health-insurance benefits, but requires employees pay about $42 a month, up from $15 a month. Part-time workers also qualify for health-insurance coverage. The agreement also clarifies contract language, something both sides said was needed. Clarifications include limiting the number of hours a year a temporary worker — either hired by the county or provided by an employment agency — can work and stopping restrictions on using accrued sick leave. Dave Kanner, deputy county administrator, said the agreement will give the county predictability in creating future budgets. "We should have labor peace for at least three years," he said. The agreement covers a range of county employees who work in road and building maintenance, public and mental health, libraries and juvenile justice. Morgan said the union plans informational meetings for its members and will set up voting places at work sites for the ratification vote. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities