County wage freeze to thaw

Whitman County commissioners Tuesday delayed a decision to unfreeze tenure-based raises to non-union employees.

Commissioners were set to re-institute the raises, known as "step" raises, that have been frozen since November. County employees normally receive "step" raises of three percent when they are upgraded in the county’s classification system every 18 months.

Commissioner Greg Partch said Gary Hunt, who the county hires to negotiate union contracts, advised him to lift the freeze. Union bargaining units refused to sign contracts that included step freezes for them.

Commissioner Michael Largent, though, advised they review the budget impacts of giving those employees their step raises before making a decision.

"The numbers won’t change my vote, likely, but let’s check it out," he said.

According to figures given commissioners by budget director Sharron Cunningham over the weekend, the total cost of re-instituting the raises would be $23,062.34.

However, only $3,682.99 of that total has been included in the 2010 budgets of various departments. That leaves county officials to come up with an additional $19,379.35 to cover the raises.

Partch said cost was secondary. His main goal, he said, was to ensure non-union employees receive the same benefits as those represented by unions.

“It’s all about fairness,’” he said.