Members at Josephine County Roads Department ratified a new five-year contract in early July. Josephine County Roads workers are paid considerably lower than roads workers in other counties throughout the state. In order to address this ongoing issue, the new contract features a restructuring of their pay scale ensuring more equitable wages to comparable classifications statewide. Additionally, we were able to secure union rights and stronger discipline and discharge language.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• Wage increases between 13.6 percent and 26.3 percent over the life of the contract
• Increased employer healthcare contributions
• Gained a cumulative of 24 hours leave time for elected officers and stewards to attend union trainings and events in each year
• Improved discipline and discharge language requiring management to inform workers of their right to steward representation prior to scheduling any investigatory or disciplinary meeting

Congratulations to bargaining team members Terry Carrol, Dan Mock, David Astray, Anthony Gragg, and chief spokesperson Melinda Roberts!