Camden County workers press commissioners to restore pay steps, reduce health premiums and fix understaffing

Dozens of Camden County social-services workers and union representatives told the Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1 that understaffing, high health-insurance costs and a two-tier pay system are harming county services and employees’ livelihoods.

Jaren Michael Steiner, president of CWA Local 1014, told the board that civilian employees across county departments — including one-stop job centers and parks crews — provide essential services and that ‘‘the time is now to put them in the [PERS] program,’’ arguing one-stop staff remain the only group not enrolled. He urged the commissioners to move employees into the pension program.

Brian Burns, speaking for 9-1-1 communication-center employees, said the unit was “rapidly approaching the 1 year mark of working without a contract” and described steep turnover: ‘‘Over the past 2 years alone, we have lost over 65 employees who have left seeking other jobs.’’ He presented a union cost estimate that returning step increases for affected employees would cost about $1,200,000 and said the union may file litigation or a complaint under the Equal Pay Act if negotiations fail.

Union leaders and witnesses presented slide-based data alleging a sharp caseload increase and vacancy problems: a union representative said SNAP caseloads rose 30% between 2019 and 2023 and cited roughly 37 vacancies in October 2023, with lower-paid titles hardest to fill. The presentation also highlighted a pay gap example the union identified for an HSS-2 title, saying employees with retained ‘‘steps’’ make about $26,000 more than colleagues hired after steps were removed.

Frontline workers described heavy workloads and financial strain. Arcadia Alvarado, a social worker in emergency assistance, said she routinely worked long hours and was paid substantially less than newer colleagues because she was hired ‘‘without steps.’’ Latanya Sandy said she was tied on a civil-service exam with a colleague who received steps and now earns about $30,000 less doing the same work.

Several speakers criticized the county’s health-insurance costs. Tammy Carr said monthly employee premiums had risen from about $62 to $542 in her case and urged the board to consider offsets or alternative plans; the union pointed to Burlington County’s $5,000 offset to employees as an example to examine.

Board members responded in the meeting: the chair thanked the speakers and said the board ‘‘heard what you’re saying loud and clear’’ and that the commissioners would convey concerns to negotiators but cannot conduct bargaining in public. Deputy Director McDonald and other commissioners praised county employees’ work and said they want to reach an agreement that provides good wages and benefits.

What happens next: The board said it will take the presentations back to its negotiating team; no formal contract changes or votes were made at the meeting.