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County union delegates press commissioners for livable wages, step system amid staffing shortages
Summary
Representatives of Communications Workers of America Local 1014 and allied speakers told the Camden County commissioners that current contract offers and insurance increases are driving staff shortages and urged reinstatement of a step-scale and higher raises.
Union representatives for county employees urged the Camden County Board of Commissioners to change the county’s approach to contract talks, saying current offers will not retain staff.
Jaren M. Steiner, identified at the meeting as president of CWA Local 1014, told commissioners the union had met with the county negotiations team three times since last month and said “there have been no discussions on livable wages, health insurance, and we are dying. We are drowning.” Steiner said many county employees are forced to work second jobs or extended shifts and urged commissioners to provide “a livable wage” and reinstate step increases.
Brian Burns, who identified himself by address at the meeting and presented a packet of wage comparisons, said the county’s offers — described in the record as 3%, 3%, 2.75% and similar figures — leave workers behind neighboring counties. Burns told the board the communication center was “30 employees short,” that five employees were known to be in Gloucester County’s hiring process, and that the county’s current pay structure risks Equal Pay Act concerns. He presented specific figures at the meeting: an average starting rate he cited of $16.23 per hour for some sites, an asserted top-range salary gap over a contract term “upwards of $102,000” for certain employee cohorts, and recent annual insurance premium increases he listed as $877.44 for single coverage and $1,728.24 for family coverage; Burns framed those increases as offsetting proposed raises.
Deputy Director McDonald responded that the administration hears the concerns and said the county is “eager to make things, get things settled with you.” Multiple commissioners thanked union speakers and said they would review materials and continue negotiations. No vote or formal contract action was recorded at the meeting.
Why it matters: Union leaders described concrete staffing shortages and wage comparisons that they said jeopardize county operations; the county’s response in the meeting was limited to continued negotiation and review of materials.
