AFSCME urges county to address highway workers’ pay and safety amid contract talks

Christina D'Angelo, a staff representative for AFSCME Council 31, addressed the DeWitt County Board on behalf of highway maintenance workers, describing the work as high-risk and urging the board to consider wage and staffing changes during contract negotiations. D'Angelo said the department had undergone an overhaul and many employees have committed to staying, but that starting wages for highway maintenance positions are considerably below the state average and a competitive starting rate would help retain staff.

D'Angelo noted that highway crews routinely face dangerous interactions with commercial vehicles and heavy equipment and that members hold commercial driver licenses and additional certifications required by the county. "These folks go to work, and they make sure that your roads are safe," she said. Union members and a department supervisor who spoke at the meeting gave specific examples of near-misses and stressed the need for pay and operational support to keep crews safe and to maintain institutional knowledge.

Board members acknowledged the work and discussed constraints posed by county budgets; some members expressed support for seeking ways to extend bargaining authority or to adjust budgets to keep experienced workers. No formal contract change was adopted at the meeting; the comments were entered as public input to ongoing negotiations.