Supervisors approve 2% supplemental wage increase for union workers

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors on July 9 approved a 2 percent supplemental wage package for union employees of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2840 and Public Professional and Maintenance Local 2003 (PPME).

Two memorandums of understanding were submitted to the board of supervisors for approval, one for each union that was affected. Supervisor Brandon Talsma said now that the county has completed its portion of the deal, it will go back to the individual unions for them to accept or reject the wage package.

During a July 2 work session, Talsma gauged what his fellow supervisors thought about continuing the conversation with the unions about a supplemental wage increase. He said a 2 percent raise for all union employees could amount to $140,000 to $180,000 and could help between the gap with non-union wages.

While there was some initial hesitation about restarting conversations after last time the supervisors met with the unions, Talsma suggested there was a break down in communication between the county and “union people sitting up in Des Moines.” When the county and unions spoke in March, it got heated.

At that time, the AFSCME drafted a letter to supervisors asking for an open and honest dialogue to resolve the issues of recruitment, retention and to have wages up to par with similar positions in and outside the county. Disagreements over past concessions and who reached out to who first threatened to stymie a deal.

However, the board of supervisors passed the supplemental wage package in a 3-0 vote.