SPOKANE COUNTY, August 10, 2021– The Spokane County Board of Commissioners have approved a renewed contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers (Local 280) which was negotiated from beginning to completion in meetings open to the public.
Local 280 covers Spokane County employees who are skilled trade employees who work in the Spokane County Facilities Department. The contract was ratified by the membership on July 29, 2021 and is in effect through June 30, 2023.
This is the second contract fully negotiated under Spokane County’s Open Meetings Resolution. Throughout the process which began on November 10, 2020 members of Local 280 and the public were encouraged and invited to attend the negotiation sessions.
As part of the negotiation meetings, both economic and non-economic topics were bargained successfully to resolution. The negotiations included considerations for competitive wages and the adoption of Spokane County’s recent classification study. Both groups worked together to ensure employees the ability to work within the parameters of an updated contract as quickly as possible.
Chair of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, Josh Kerns, stated, “I would like to thank staff and of course Local 280 for listening to the public. The public has demanded transparency, and that is what this agreement has provided. It’s another big day for the County and another big day for transparency at the local government level.”
Commissioner Al French added, “My appreciation goes out to staff for demonstrating to other employees and the public that these negotiations can happen in the sunshine and can be equitably negotiated. As a past union member, I appreciate that this is an agreement that is not only fair but completed in full view of the public. These are the public’s funds and the public should have the opportunity to observe how these funds are used.”