SEIU union members across Allegheny County public services and the Kane Community Living Centers have overwhelmingly ratified a one-year contract extension with Allegheny County, covering wages and working conditions through December 31, 2025. The SEIU Local 668 and Healthcare PA members' current contract with the County runs through December 31, 2024; the extension will cover January 1 through December 31, 2025.
The extension covers around 1,000 union members at several agencies and departments across Allegheny County, including the Elections Division, the Office of Children, Youth and Families, 911, the Public Defender’s and District Attorney’s offices, and other departments.
"The one-year contract extension includes increased benefits, additional vacation days, improved work-life balance, and a pay raise. These enhancements help combat inflation in the County," stated Brenda Davis, a Registrar Technician at the Allegheny County Elections Office.
Union members will receive up to two additional weeks of vacation leave, expedited access to sick leave, and immediate access to paid parental leave for new hires, among other incentives. One key provision is an increase of the minimum start rate for county employees from $18 an hour to $20 an hour effective.
“The contract extension will help our county nursing homes stabilize the care workforce we have right now and make sure we can do our best for the residents,” said Charles Vincent III, a housekeeper and foreman at Kane Community Living Center in McKeesport. “We’re also looking forward to doing more work to continue raising wages so that these jobs can stay competitive with the private sector.”
"My coworkers and I were very pleased to see the provisions from this one-year contract extension, including the wage increase to $20 an hour and additional paid annual leave. We look forward to working with the County Executive's administration to benefit everyone and to bargain for fair wages and working conditions for years to come," said Tracy Eagan, a five-year County worker in the District Attorney's office.
“As one of her first acts in office, through constructive collective bargaining, County Executive Sara Innamorato raised wages for public service workers, promoting a more positive culture of work-life balance in the County and addressing the significant number of job vacancies. We are encouraged by the County Executive’s genuine effort to improve working conditions and the well-being of County employees, and we anticipate a productive, solutions-oriented discussion in the years to come,” stated SEIU Local 668 President Steve Catanese.
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