BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — A union representing many Northampton County Department of Human Services employees on Thursday announced a date for a planned strike.
The one-day strike by members of Service Employees International Union local 668 will take place June 21.
It will include employees working in county Emergency Services, Early Intervention, Information and Referral Services, Children and Families, Aging and similar divisions.
Union members walked out of the county’s human services building at noon Thursday to protest stalled negotiations toward a new contract.
“The foundation is wages. We think if that foundational piece can be fixed then we can definitely start working on the other things. But right now, the crisis is the lack of staff.”Kezzy Johnson, chief SEIU shop steward for the DHS employees
The county’s last offer amounted to a 15% raise over the next three years, which County Executive Lamont McClure called “more than fair.”
“That's just a really big offer, and I think it's more than the people who pay the bills — the taxpayers — get,” McClure said.
“It's fair to our great employees and fair to our wonderful taxpayers. And I think [SEIU members] ought to accept it and stay at work.”
The chief SEIU shop steward for the DHS employees, Kezzy Johnson, said the county’s offer is not enough to compete with other employers, which would prolong an ongoing staffing crisis.
“The foundation is wages,” Johnson said of the dispute. “We think if that foundational piece can be fixed then we can definitely start working on the other things.
"But right now, the crisis is the lack of staff.”
