NorthwestAugust 17, 1993

Jim Jacobs

The union representing Asotin County employees has filed two unfair labor practice complaints against county commissioners.

Complaints have been filed with Washington's Public Employment Relations Commission on behalf of sheriff's department workers and public works employees.

Robert D. Johnson, president of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees Local 1191, said employees in the sheriff's department have been working since Jan. 1 without a contract.

''We tried to go through and deal with these people, but they seem to want to stonewall everybody,'' Johnson said.

The specific unfair labor practice alleged in the complaint stems from the county pulling an offer of longevity increases off the bargaining table, according to Johnson. The two sides had reached tentative agreement on that part of the contract, he said.

''We had an agreement, and then we don't,'' he said. ''Which is it?''

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

County commissioners tell a different version of the story. Commissioner Donald G. Scheibe said the county pulled the longevity increases only after union members rejected the county's final contract offer.

The complaint on behalf of public works employees claims the county failed to bargain a change in working conditions when it hired temporary outside help for the landfill while union members were on vacation.

Johnson said union members wanted the chance to pick up the slack by working overtime. In any case, he said, the union should have been given right of first refusal.

''That has been past practice,'' Johnson said, ''and they didn't even ask us.''

Commissioners said they interpret the contract differently. The language in the pact doesn't require the county to offer overtime to its employees, they said.

Story Tags
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM