Family services workers reject fact-finder plan

5/4/2001

Employees of Lucas County's job and family services department roundly rejected a fact-finders recommendations that would have led to a three-year contract.

The county commissioners earlier accepted the report which granted a 3 percent raise in each of 3 years to the 550 members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. The fact-finder also recommended a bonus of $1,500 if the employees accepted the recommendations.

The union had sought raises of 5 percent in each of three years with a bonus of $2,500. George Tucker, regional director of Council 8, AFSCME, said the membership vote was well over the 60 percent required to reject the fact-finder's recommendations.

He said most of the complaints from members had more to do with working conditions than with the proposed pay hike.