Courthouse union to get $550 under 2012 contract

Gazette Reporters

Union employees in the Whitman County courthouse will receive $550 bonuses this year, commissioners officially decided Tuesday. County employees working without unions will also receive the bonus.

Commissioners signed a 2012 contract with the 46 Teamsters who work in the courthouse Tuesday which includes the one-time bonus in lieu of raises to base pay.

Courthouse employees are represented by the Teamsters Local 690 out of Spokane.

Last week, commissioners voted to extend the same payment to the county’s 64 non-union employees. Last week’s vote, though, offered employees the option to put the money into a tax-free health savings account.

Kelli Campbell, human resources director, informed commissioners Tuesday that IRS regulations do not allow that option, so it was removed.

Commissioner Greg Partch said commissioners decided to offer the one-time checks after discovering untapped funds while the county was converting to its New World accounting software this spring.

In total, the courthouse union and non-union employees will receive $60,500.

The offer was not extended to the road or solid waste employees, who are also represented by the Teamsters and are still negotiating a 2012 contract.

The Whitman County Deputies Association is also negotiating a 2012 contract.