County employees, union leaders press commissioners on wages as JFS staff strike continues

Community members, union representatives and Job & Family Services employees used the public comment period to press the board for a negotiated settlement after expired labor contracts and a weeks‑long picket line. Civil Action Program Chairman Ryan Ashley, representing UAW Local 1250 and speaking for members who live in the county, criticized the county's public framing of offers and said the county's headline number to the public included total compensation rather than base wages: "This is not wages. This is total compensation that includes their healthcare and pension contributions," he said.

Several speakers described operational impacts and urged the commissioners to bargain. Paul Donovan recounted a personal example of a former county employee who earned less at JFS than in private retail, and urged the board: "Go back to the table and sit down and talk to them and meet them in the middle with something that is fair and equitable for these women and gentlemen." Sandra Jensen, a long‑time intake worker, and other caseworkers described low pay, long service and reliance by clients on services administered by the staff. Candance MacIntosh, who said she had been on the picket line for seven weeks, described clients who cannot reach services because staffing is reduced and urged the commissioners to return to negotiations. Speakers also contrasted commissioners' compensation with frontline wages and asked for urgency and accountability.

The board did not announce a settlement during the meeting. Public commenters called for renewed bargaining and for commissioners to act to end the strike; no formal action or vote on a labor agreement was recorded during this session.