A dispute among the leaders of one of Baltimore County?s largest labor unions threatens what one called the best chance for a fair compromise on significant retirement plan changes.
The former president of a union representing about 1,700 general employees ? everyone except teachers, firefighters, police officers, department heads and elected officials ? said current leaders refuse to allow members to vote on a proposed settlement with county administrators that he considers equitable.
Sgt. James Clark, a member of the county chapter of the Federation of Public Employees, sent an e-mail to more than 300 corrections workers to express his “disgust” with current leaders, who rejected an agreement that would have provided a 3 percent cost-of-living salary increase, among other perks.
“It pains me, frankly, to take the position I have. … but these things are near and dear to their hearts,” Clark said. “They should have an opportunity to vote the contract up or down.”
But current FPE president Jim Miller said Clark is pushing for a settlement that benefits corrections employees, but not other union members.
He said the county has reached “good deals” with law enforcement and fire unions that could come at the expenseof other employees in the union.
He said his main concern remains a proposal to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65. “Let?s face it,” Miller said. “It really hurts people.”
The county is also proposing significant cuts to benefits for future personnel and changes to health care for all employees, according to union leaders.
A collective agreement calls for a 7 percent increase in the shared costs for HMO-participants and a 10 percent increase in costs for Blue Cross/Blue Shield customers over the next 5 years, officials said.
Police union president Cole Weston did not return a phone call seeking comment on the reported agreement.
County officials call the changes necessary to comply with a new federal law requiring governments to fund future retiree health and life insurance benefits on an accrual basis ? estimated as a $2 billion county liability.
