Local labor unions are gearing up for a significant demonstration at the upcoming Camden County Commissioner’s meeting. The aim is to secure higher salaries, improved healthcare benefits, and pay equity for members of the Communication Workers of America. This is a crucial issue that has been ongoing in the latest round of contract negotiations.

Unions Demand Fair Compensation in Camden County

Background of the Unions

CWA Local 1084 represents 375 public employees working under the Camden County Board of Social Services, which administers programs like SNAP and Medicaid. Another sister union, Local 1014, represents 1,500 local and county workers. These unions represent non-supervisory employees across local and county agencies.Members of Local 1084 have been without a contract since January 1, and negotiations have failed to reach an agreement. The last negotiations meeting on November 21 saw management offer a 2.25% pay increase, which was flatly declined by the union.

The Impact of Inflation

The union emphasizes that pay has not kept pace with inflation or the rising costs of healthcare over the past several contracts. Tammy Carr, vice president of CWA Local 1084, points out that members pay $12,000 a year in premiums for family healthcare.Inflation took off in 2021 due to global supply chain issues following COVID-19 quarantines. While the inflation rate has fallen since 2022, it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. Locally, the cost of goods in the Philadelphia region, including Camden County, increased by 3.4% annually through October.

Healthcare Premium Issues

Issues with healthcare premiums date back to 2011 when former Gov. Chris Christie signed Chapter 78 into law. This recalculated public employees' pension contributions and the administration of the State Health Benefits Program.The union is now asking for higher pay to offset the increased insurance premiums and the impact of inflation over the past decade.

Pay Equity Concerns

A presentation to be shared at Thursday’s commissioners meeting highlights a wide gap in employee salaries based on when they started working. In some cases, employees with the same title can make up to $30,000 less than their peers.This pay disparity has led to serious recruitment and retention issues. According to an internal survey, 57% of employees considered leaving their jobs in the past year for reasons other than retirement, and 87% reported low morale and burnout.The union's workforce has decreased by 4%, while overtime expenditures to cover increasing case loads have risen exponentially. In 2019, the agency spent just under $200,000 in overtime, but in 2023, it spent over $868,000.

The Union's Perspective

The union believes that Camden County Social Service workers love their work and want to provide high-quality support. However, low and unequal pay and a burdensome workload have throttled morale among union members.Stephen Johnson, president of CWA Local 1084, states that newer employees are paid so little that they can't afford to live independently and often have multiple jobs.The union presentation includes other data points from the internal survey that illustrate the impact of these issues on union members.