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Union member urges county to return to bargaining; commissioner to attend talks
Summary
Tiana Cabilis, a CSIU Local 668 member who works for the county Area Agency on Aging, told commissioners contract talks have stalled after five bargaining sessions and asked commissioners to press the county lawyer to negotiate in good faith; a commissioner said he will attend future sessions.
Tiana Cabilis identified herself as a member of CSIU Local 668 who works in Northumberland County’s Area Agency on Aging and addressed the commissioners during the public-comment portion of the meeting. She said five bargaining sessions with the county have produced no tentative agreement and asked commissioners to instruct the county lawyer to return to the table and treat workers respectfully.
Cabilis said the union’s proposals would help recruitment and retention and include language found in other collective-bargaining agreements, including seniority protections. She told the board that the office has lost employees since December and that staff proficiency takes years to develop: “Retention and recruitment of qualified staff should be a key priority in this county,” she said. She also alleged that the county lawyer rejected proposals and behaved condescendingly toward bargaining-unit members.
In response, a commissioner said he speaks regularly with the county lawyer, will begin attending negotiations, and called for both sides to negotiate in good faith while noting county budget constraints, including a proposal to freeze all budgets for fiscal year 2027. The commissioner said the county pays about $38,000 for family medical insurance and urged the union and management to break down proposals to find a compromise.
The board did not take immediate action but the commissioner’s stated intent to attend upcoming negotiations signals direct commissioner involvement going forward.
