"This Fight Is Not Over" Say MontCo Workers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Frustrated Montgomery County workers are calling on County councilmembers to “respect the collective bargaining process" after the Council voted Thursday to proceed with unilateral budget cuts after the workers had offered over $14 million in cost savings. Supporters are urged to contact Council members immediately, as the final budget vote is set for next week. The Montgomery County vote followed on the heels of the Prince Georges County Council's vote Wednesday night to deny a negotiated raise to workers there and attempts by some DC Councilmembers to oppose increased taxes on the wealthy to mitigate budget shortfalls. "There's a clear effort across the region to blame and penalize the very people who make our communities run," said Metro Council President Jos Williams. UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO said that "It appears that the (Montgomery County) Council has never really been interested in collaborating with the unions," after the Council ignored a proposal by county unions Wednesday that would “provide $14.45 million in combined savings they said they needed in FY12 and would restructure benefits in a way that would give the county greater savings in years to come,” according to Local 1994. The County Council's vote to implement a cost-shifting benefit proposal instead of a negotiated agreement with the county’s unions -- including county workers, firement and police -- would amount to a significant wage cut for many county workers, says Local 1994. While the union says that it is exploring legal options and will continue talks with the county, “This fight is not over (and) it is critical that the Council hears from [the public] before the final vote on the FY12 budget on May 26.” Click here now to tell councilmembers to “respect the collective bargaining process and work with the unions on a plan that provides real and sustainable savings.”