After a tumultuous year of union relations at the state level, Dane County officials approved an agreement with county workers Tuesday that will alter a union contract to diminish wages and thus save the county nearly $2 million next year.
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees stood behind Dane County Executive Joe Parisi as he signed a resolution that would alter an existing union contract to temporarily reduce workers’ wages and require them to contribute toward their retirement in 2013, among other provisions.
Under a legislative provision, existing union contracts can be negotiated within a 90-day window to allow concessions or changes within the contract, Parisi said in a news conference. Once the time period has ended Feb. 28, any changes made to the contract would render the entire document void.
Parisi cited issues such as severe cuts to the Dane County budget by the state Legislature and an ailing economy that has consequentially raised the need for public services to justify the need for the resolution.
“By sitting down and problem solving together, the county and its public employees have negotiated agreements that will save county taxpayers nearly $2 million, protect vital public services and help out workers and their families adjust to the ill-advised actions of our state leaders,” Parisi said in a statement.
According to AFSCME Local 65 President Arlyn Halvorson, union members will receive a 1.25 percent cut in hourly wages, which will save the county approximately $1.2 million in one year.
Halvorson said the cuts are important not only to preserve a good relationship between Dane County and its employees, but also to continue to provide county citizens with vital public services.
“It is all of our objectives to give services and maintain services to the public,” Halvorson said. “It’s our livelihood, and it’s [the public’s] value that they should be receiving. Unforeseen cuts from the Legislature to the county puts them in a tough spot … We’re doing what we think is right.”
Halvorson said this is not the first time county officials and employees have come together to create solutions. He added union members have taken leave voluntarily and given up work hours in the past to help Dane County with budgetary concerns.
AFSCME Local 1871 President Andy Heidt expressed his gratitude toward Dane County for the compromises it was able to reach.
“On behalf of the unions, we extend our thanks to Dane County,” Heidt said. “[Gov. Scott] Walker’s budget has put us in a straightjacket, and we’ve been able to come together and work in the Dane County way to come up with the best solutions.”
Heidt asserted the importance of being able to preserve public services through the negotiations made in the resolution.
Parisi said the budgetary successes stemming from discussion and compromise between Dane County and its workers is an example of why collective bargaining should be reinstated.
“I hope this can be used as a model to point to why we should reinstate collective bargaining and have everyone come together to solve our problems collectively,” Parisi said. “The success we’ve been able to have shows collective bargaining is a good thing.”
According to Parisi, AFSCME and county officials reached a tentative agreement on the resolution’s provisions several weeks ago. The Dane County Board authorized Parisi to sign the agreement at its Feb. 17 meeting.
