Approximately 300 Bucks County government employees represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 668 are set to strike Friday morning following stalled negotiations over health benefits, union officials said.
The employees, who have been working without a contract for nine months, are among the 500 SEIU members employed across several county agencies, including 9-1-1, Children and Youth Services, the Area Agency on Aging, and the IT Department.
The decision to strike comes after union members overwhelmingly rejected the county’s summer proposal, with a 99 percent vote in favor of authorizing the strike earlier this summer.
The main contention points to significant reductions in health care benefits proposed by the county, according to the county.
Edward Berger, a member of the union negotiating team and a 24-year county employee, expressed dissatisfaction with the county’s approach, especially given past compromises.
“The county’s last proposal has demanded massive cuts to healthcare benefits. Union members worked with the County in our 2020 contract negotiations and accepted small wage increases due to the urgency of pandemic conditions. Bucks County’s essential public workers deserve a fair contract that protects our healthcare, not a cut to our hard-earned benefits,” Berger said.
At the Wednesday Bucks County Commissioners’ meeting, a veteran employee of 28 years implored the county to meet the union’s demands and highlighted the sacrifices made during the COVID-19 crisis.
Union representatives have accused county officials of deliberately limiting negotiation sessions.
Hope Boyle, a union member and employee of 18 years in the Children and Youth department, emphasized the stakes involved.
“This is about protecting our health care benefits,” she said, adding that a cut to health care benefits would hurt families.
Union members have pointed to Democratic commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Bob Harvie’s campaign pledge to support unions.
In response to the impending strike, the county administration announced operations will continue and there are contingency plans to minimize disruption.
The commissioners and administration issued the following statement: “The county is aware of the planned one-day work stoppage and has arranged for supervisors to fill in for striking staff Friday to ensure the public is served without delay. This administration stands ready to continue negotiating to reach a fair salary and benefits package for our valued employees and looks forward to welcoming them back to work on Monday.”
Ellis-Marseglia, the chairperson of the commissioners, said on Wednesday that the offer most recently put out by the county is the largest its made and accused union leadership of not telling members all the details.
Last Wednesday, some union members picketed outside the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough.
