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AFSCME representative urges answers after positions moved from auditor to finance, alleges pay cut and union‑busting
Summary
Natalie Nagel, AFSCME representative for more than 200 Champaign County employees, told the board that four bargaining‑unit positions moved from the auditor’s office to finance but now show only three positions; she said the county unilaterally set job grade and pay—leaving accounts‑payable clerks paid roughly $10 an hour less—and accused the county of hiring outside counsel to oppose unionization.
Natalie Nagel, who identified herself as the AFSCME representative for more than 200 Champaign County employees, used the public‑comment period to press the board for information about a transfer of bargaining‑unit work from the auditor’s office to the finance department.
Nagel said the union was told the move would transfer the same work and number of positions, but that four bargaining‑unit positions in the auditor’s office became only three positions in finance. She said the county agreed to a joint unit clarification petition for an accounts‑payable clerk and that the labor board certified that position into the bargaining unit, but the county later set job grade and hourly pay without bargaining. Nagel said AFSCME’s wage proposal was not accepted and that the county’s counterproposal did not change job grade or pay.
Nagel told the board the administration is paying accounts‑payable clerks a “full $10 less per hour” than the lowest‑paid accountant in the auditor’s office and that the auditor’s office accountants were laid off, with one remaining employee accepting a significant pay cut. She said a group of accounts‑payable clerks submitted a majority‑interest petition to join AFSCME and that the county is contesting that effort and has retained outside counsel.
Why it matters: If the claims are accurate and bargaining obligations were not honored, the dispute could lead to labor hearings or state labor‑board rulings and affect staffing, pay and county labor costs. The board did not resolve the union’s request during the meeting; Nagel said AFSCME expects a response from the board.
What the board said: Chair invited additional public commenters and asked the union representative to provide contact information for follow‑up. No county official provided a direct denial or detailed response to the claims during public comment.
Quotable: “We had 4 bargaining unit positions in the auditor's office and currently only have 3 in the finance department...the county administration is currently paying the accounts payable clerks a full $10 less per hour than what the lowest paid accountant was making in the auditor's office,” Nagel said.
Next steps: Nagel asked the board for a response; the union said it would expect follow‑up. The claim that the county retained outside counsel to contest unionization was raised but was not answered on the record at this meeting.
