An arbitration panel has rejected a fact finder?s recommendation to give members of two Baltimore County employee unions across-the-board raises, county officials said Friday.
In a 4-1 vote, the panel decided the county budget has no room for cost-of-living adjustments next year for members of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees ? which includes county teachers ? and the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses. The vote is a victory for County Executive Jim Smith, who has resisted raises for most county employees, citing state cuts and a looming recession.
“We see this as validation of what we?ve been saying all along,” said Don Mohler, a spokesman for Smith. “An independent panel with years of experience in business and economics looked at the county?s current budget situation and came to the conclusion that there?s just no funds for cost-of-living adjustments.”
The ruling conflicts with last week?s decision by fact finder Robert Simmelkjaer that the county can afford a 3 percent cost-of-living increase for members of the two unions, citing an $81 million surplus.
About 300 teachers protested outside Smith?s office Wednesday, after his labor commissioner rejected Simmelkjaer?s findings. With arbitration as the final step, union leaders said they are discussing possible legal action if Smith accepts the nonbinding results.
The outcome of the five-member panel, which met Thursday, was not surprising, said Jim Miller, president of the 1,700-member Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees, which also represents correctional officers. Miller said the panel is “stacked” in the county?s favor with three members appointed by the County Council and one by Smith.
The labor group?s appointee was the sole dissenting vote, Miller said.
“This is just another case of the administration presenting its views and forcing everyone else to accept it as the truth,” he said.
