County re-ups with negotiators as labor talks go on

While still bargaining with union employees for contracts in 2011 and 2010, Whitman County commissioners Monday renewed a deal with negotiator G. Andrew Hunt and Associates.

The Hunt firm of Spokane represents the county’s interests in collective bargaining negotiations with employee unions.

Commissioner Pat O’Neill said the expertise of the Hunt firm is key to protecting the county’s interests in labor wranglings.

“I’m not a professional at that, and we’ve got a lot of other things to do,” said O’Neill, who was a member of the Teamsters Union during his previous career as an aircraft mechanic. “The union has their guys, I think we need one too.”

Negotiations for a contract between the county and the courthouse, road department and solid waste bargaining units have been ongoing since fall of 2009. Jail employees, also Teamsters members, signed a contract in September.

Courthouse, road and solid waste employees worked all of 2010 without a contract, rejecting offers brought to them by negotiators.

Commissioner Michael Largent said the two sides have been stuck over several issues. He said declining revenues make it harder to offer more to the employee unions.

“Getting somewhere with an unsustainable contract that would cost jobs is not in the best interests of the county,” said Largent.

Terms were not changed in the county’s contract with the Hunt firm.

The county will pay the firm $70 per hour up to 145 hours, or $10,150, to negotiate with the union, research claims and travel to meetings. The firm will be paid $75 per hour for every hour past the 145 hour mark.

The approximately 110 employees in the courthouse, road department, solid waste department and jail are represented by the Teamsters Union. Those employees paid just more than $40,000 in dues in 2010, according to payroll records in the county’s human resources department.

The Hunt firm was paid $18,856 last year to negotiate with the Teamsters.

“I’ve heard the argument that the money would be better spent on our employees, and I get that,” said Commissioner Greg Partch. “But at the same time, they’ve got a professional negotiator on their side, and we need to have one too.”

Whitman County’s Deputy Sheriff’s Association, a separate union, is entering the final year of a four-year collective contract signed in 2007.

State law forbids public employees from striking to gain concessions.