As the Union moves closer and closer to a strike. Last I heard, negotiations did not take place last weekend as promised. County administrators said they would be negotiating all weekend, but because the Union had voted to authorize a strike, the county negotiators all left in protest. Makes them seem a bit juvenile, but then maybe they are with their unwillingness to negotiate a fair deal, after devastating the SEIU members the last six years with take aways, while always giving better contracts to other unions.
Anyway, I came across something else to consider. I was finishing my CEU ethics course on line, and came across this bit about ethics and labor issues:
Mental Health practitioners are generally allowed to engage in organized action, including the formation and participation in labor unions, to improve services to clients and working conditions. When involved in a dispute, job action or strike, workers should carefully weigh the possible impact on clients and be guided by their profession's ethical values and principals prior to taking action.
Now I have to ferret out what that means and how it applies to my situation. Is the Callcenter a position that has to be manned at all costs. It seems like it is. We cannot not be there for a caller in crisis. Also people need to access services (if they are not closed because of a strike. Something to think about and pray about. I;m still praying something will give to improve our prospects. I really do not want to strike.
Labor Relations It looks very likely at this time that county workers will go on strike. The county is offering very little, and the Union is asking for a lot. I have been to a couple rallies, at the City Building and at the hospital. We shall see, but I noted the union is asking for 9 percent a year with no take away and the county is offering 6 percent over 5 years with county worker paying two percent of their medical insurance. If you do the math this is like no cost of living increase. This is less than what persons who are retired receive. So something has to give.
