Washington County Housing Authority, union workers settle contract dispute
Mike Jones
The Washington County Housing Authority and union that represents 32 maintenance and clerical workers have agreed upon a new contract, ending a four-day strike.
The housing authority and Teamsters Local 585 union released a joint statement Friday afternoon announcing the strike that began earlier this week has been resolved and the workers will return to their jobs Monday morning.
“After lengthy discussions and negotiations, the Washington County Housing Authority and its Union members are happy to announce the parties have reached an agreement to end the labor strike,” the two parties said in the joint statement.
No details of the contract were released, but the statement explains all parties involved were able to “come together to reach a resolution” that was acceptable for both sides. The union had been asking for modest wage increases for its 32 members that would cost an additional $36,567 over the life of the three-year contract proposal.
“This agreement provides for well-deserved wage increases for the hardworking maintenance and clerical staff and we are excited for everyone to get back to work together for the residents of Washington County,” the statement reads.
The 20 maintenance workers and 12 clerical employees hit the picket lines Tuesday morning after their previous contract expired at midnight Monday. That meant residents living in the 17 county housing authority facilities were unable to reach anyone if they needed service repairs or had questions about their Section 8 housing. Two housing inspectors also walked off the job in solidarity with the striking workers.
During that time, striking workers stationed themselves on the picket lines at multiple housing locations, including outside the authority’s headquarters at Crumrine Tower in Washington.
The agreement Friday came as somewhat of a surprise after negotiations began Tuesday through state-sanctioned mediation sessions, although negotiations originally were not expected to resume until next week.
Now that the strike has been settled, maintenance workers will once again be on call and available for work beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, according to Harold Close, who serves as the local union’s principal officer.
“It was resolved pretty quickly,” said Close, who referred all other comments to the joint statement.
The 32 maintenance and clerical workers service 1,100 apartment units in 17 county housing authority facilities located in Washington, Canonsburg, Monongahela, Donora, North Charleroi, California, Bentleyville, Fredericktown and New Eagle.