Highway department employees and their union representative were at the Brown County Commission meeting Tuesday with concerns about wages.
The discussion came up during the public comment portion of the meeting at the Brown County Courthouse.
While a a 3% wage raise for county employees was approved, those who are part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees did not get the boost. That's per a request from labor representative Puja Datta, who said the request was made because a new union contract had not been negotiated. By law, implementing the wage increase without a negotiated agreement is violation of labor law and could result in a complaint filed with the Department of Labor, Datta said.
Later, she said the unintended consequence of that request has pit union and non-union employees against one another. Datta said the county and the union could sign a memorandum of understanding for the 3% wage increase while negotiations continue for a new contract.
"The reason we're here is that we feel a little stuck in negotiations," Datta said. "We're here to make sure you understand what that means. We have folks looking for other jobs."
Datta said she understands employers are in a tough situation, but the county also received federal stimulus funds and has discretionary money available.
Nick Junger, a highway department employee and president of the department's union group, also expressed frustration and said some highway employees are looking...
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