First Posted: 3/3/2015
LIMA — Allen County Commissioners approved a wage package Tuesday for members of the Communication Workers of America Local 4319 working at the Allen County Department of Job and Family Services.
“Today we were able to get pay increases for the next two years to employees within the contract,” department director Steve Barker said. “We were able to get a 3 percent increase both this year and next year.”
The CWA represents case workers, case worker aides, receptionists and other support staff for the department. Barker was pleased that these workers could get a pay increase without breaking the bank.
“The budget was a concern for both the management here at the office and with the commissioners, who were concerned about what the state budget would be, because where our money comes from is from the state and the feds,” he said. “We thought they were very generous in helping us support our employees. We always like to give them as much as we can, but you have to have the bottom line in mind.”
Although county commissioners do not provide the funding for the department’s payroll, they are required to approve the wage package as a formality.
“Almost everything comes from state and the feds, not the commissioners,” Barker said. “The commissioners do have to approve it, but it’s not money coming out of their coffers.”
Representatives from the CWA Local 4319 could not be reached for comment.
