Juvenile counselors urge Washington County to address pay gaps and bargaining authority during public comment

Several current juvenile counselors and union representatives addressed the Washington County Board of Commissioners during the public comment portion of the Aug. 26 meeting, urging higher wages, improved safety resources and additional bargaining authority for county negotiators.

Sean Stutzman, a juvenile counselor and former probation officer with about 35 years of juvenile justice experience, said juvenile counselors have not received merit raises beyond cost-of-living increases and are paid substantially less than counterparts at adult parole and probation and at the Oregon Youth Authority. “We all meet the same minimum qualifications. We all undergo similar trainings. We all carry the same skill sets,” Stutzman said. He said juvenile counselors often work face-to-face with volatile youth in uncontrolled environments and lack law-enforcement backup or protective equipment.

Several other counselors spoke about the work’s risks, the emotional toll and the consequences of turnover. Esperanza Guillen, a counselor in the assessment and court unit, described entering homes without knowing conditions and said staff sometimes miss lunches because crises arise. Julia Stacy and Tammy Bodine described long service—Stacy since 1997 and Bodine since 1995—and said turnover has hurt continuity for families.

Rolando Figueroa, AFSCME Council 75’s local representative and chief negotiator for the juvenile workers’ contract, said bargaining began with management in January. He told the board that management had offered a 0% cost-of-living adjustment and that the union is asking the board to grant more economic bargaining authority to settle a historic first contract. “By offering only what non-union workers receive, they’re essentially telling these workers that your union doesn't matter,” Figueroa said, and he added the union was more than 90% in membership.

Speakers asked the board to support pay parity with comparable agencies and to authorize stronger bargaining authority so the parties can settle the contract without prolonged labor unrest. No formal board action was taken during the public-comments section; the speakers provided staff with informational packets and said they would be available for follow-up.

Why it matters: Juvenile counselors’ pay, staffing levels and workplace safety influence continuity of supervision, youth rehabilitation outcomes and community safety. County pay policy, collective bargaining authority and budget choices determine whether the negotiator can offer contract terms that the union finds acceptable.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed in the speakers section below.