Over 300 workers at Butler County are threatening to strike if they do not get a new contract.
The workers are a part of SEIU Local 668 and they announced their intent to strike if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by March 15th.
The workers are from a variety of departments, including children and youth, courthouse, aging, 911, the prison, and more.
Eric Dodd is a Butler County employee and is serving as the chief steward for the workers.
“Our members work hard to serve the public and provide critical services and support to working families across our county. Throughout the pandemic, many of our members and fellow essential workers continued performing their jobs when our community needed them most,” Dodd said in a statement. “We deserve a fair contract with living wages and increases that reflect the rising cost of living due to inflation. Since Butler County representatives are unwilling to address the reality of our needs and concerns, we have decided to strike.”
Union reps say the workers have been without a contract since the beginning of the year.
SEIU representatives took issue with the county’s negotiator, attorney Chris Gabriel.
“Union members in Butler County have done everything possible to resolve these issues throughout contract negotiations. Still, the County’s attorney Chris Gabriel has repeatedly demeaned these workers at the bargaining table and has demonstrated that he would rather act in bad faith than treat them with the respect they have more than earned. The workers have done their part; now it’s time for the County Commissioners to step in and do theirs,” SEIU Local 668 President Steve Catanese said in a press release.
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