Luzerne County union rejects proposed contract

June 11--Luzerne County's residual union voted Tuesday to reject a proposed new collective bargaining agreement, opening the door to a possible strike.

The union covers 164 security guards, road and bridge workers, maintenance workers, 911 dispatchers and clerical staff.

County officials and unions have managed to avoid strikes in recent years.

Unionized Aging and Children and Youth employees had a five-day work stoppage in 2001. The last full-blown strike was in the early 1980s involving workers from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, which also represents residual workers, former county chief clerk/administrator Eugene Klein has said.

AFSCME union leader Paula Schnelly said 65 residual workers voted against the contract Tuesday, and 34 were willing to accept the terms. Another 65 members did not vote.

Schnelly declined to speculate why the contract was rejected or discuss the possibility of a strike.

"The union is hoping to have further discussions with the county," Schnelly said.

County Manager Robert Lawton said he must discuss the matter with county Administrative Services Division Head David Parsnik and others before determining if the administration will consider returning to the bargaining table.

Officials on both sides declined to discuss specifics of the proposed contract, saying all parties had agreed to wait until a pact was approved by both the union and council.

According to information distributed to union members before the vote, the new contract:

--Keeps compensation the same in 2014 and provides a 2.5-percent increase in 2015 and 2-percent raises in the final two years.

--Reduces the number of days off for employees hired in the future.

--Requires employees to pay increased payments toward health insurance, including a $500 hospital admission deductible.

--Changes wording involving seniority rights for workers.

Two residual workers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they believe most workers who rejected the contract were opposed to changes in health care and seniority.

The two worry the administration won't budge and will allow a strike. Work such as security, cleaning and the maintenance of roads and bridges could be outsourced to private companies, they said.

Much of the opposition to the contract came from 911 dispatchers who likely would not suffer the full impact of a strike, the employees said.

The county can seek a court order forcing striking employees to return to work if they handle emergency services, which could include 911 dispatching. County employees are not paid when they strike.

The residual union was at a similar crossroads in 2009, when members voted 90-61 against the proposed contract. Prior commissioners reluctantly agreed to make a few minor changes, resulting in majority union support in the second vote.

Health care and seniority language changes have been key issues in recent contract negotiations. The administration has emphasized the need to transition all employees to a uniform health insurance package. County officials also have argued merit -- not seniority -- must be the basis of personnel decisions involving layoffs and promotions under the county's home rule government.

It's unclear what role council will play now that the administration's proposal has been rejected by the union.

Council Chairman Rick Morelli, a home rule charter drafter, said he believes the administration should brief council in executive session and seek input from council if negotiations reach an impasse, especially if a strike is possible.

A strike vote would be required for the residual union to stop work. The union also could opt to do nothing and continue working under the contract that expired in December, though it's unclear if the county would challenge that plan.

Four of the county's 10 unions have the right to strike instead of the option to seek binding arbitration. The three other unions that can strike cover human service branches, and these employees accepted new contracts in January.

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