Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor Relations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kitsap County approves AFSCME contract covering courthouse employees, cites $2.08 million cost
Summary
The county approved a successor collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 1308 covering about 282 courthouse and county employees. The agreement finances wage adjustments and benefit changes with an estimated total cost of $2,080,000.
Kitsap County commissioners approved a three‑year successor collective bargaining agreement with the Washington Council of County and City Employees, AFSCME Local 1308, covering 2025 through 2027.
Human Resources Director Denise summarized the agreement, saying it covers about 282 employees in multiple county departments, including court operations, elections, licensing, recording, payroll and facilities maintenance. Denise said the agreement implements placement on a new 10‑step pay scale, with tenure recognition that places employees hired before Jan. 1, 2020 at least at step 5. The deal includes a 3.5% lump‑sum payment for employees with frozen wages, a 3.5% general wage increase in 2025, and 2026–27 general increases of 1% to 4% tied to the Seattle CPI‑U formula.
Denise summarized additional terms: an extra step for facilities‑maintenance staff, movement to a self‑insured dental program, continuation of the vision program, an additional floating holiday after 10 years of service, 10‑hour‑per‑month vacation accrual after two years of service, and adding pregnancy‑related loss as a qualifying reason for bereavement leave. Denise said the total cost to the county is $2,080,000, and that roughly 75% of that cost will be charged to general and internal funds.
The board moved and seconded approval; after questions from commissioners the motion carried by voice vote.
Why it matters: The agreement applies to one of the county’s larger bargaining units and implements pay‑scale changes from a prior compensation study. The county said the changes recognize employees who worked through the COVID period and aim to align wages with market rates.
What the county said about next steps: The union membership already voted to approve the agreement; the board’s action completes the county’s ratification and authorizes execution of the contract.
