Monterey County public service workers hold rally over contract offer

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Hundreds of Monterey County public service workers say they can’t live on the pay they’re getting and are demanding a change.

Friday, while representative with the service employees union bargained with the county, workers protested outside hoping to make their voices heard.

“Its time the county take care of us, we’re supposed to be a part of their team, so we’re showing up in numbers and trying to make a statement,” Randall Wright with the Monterey County call center said.

The chants echoed from inside the courtyard of the county building as public service workers stormed in.

Negotiations between the union and the county has been going on for months. It’s been three years since their last contract, and workers say their 7% cost of living increases haven’t kept up with a 10% rise in inflation.

“The counties going after our health care, the counties going after any decent pay hike we might hope to get. We can’t afford to live here, who’s going to give people their benefits, who’s going to give people their food stamps,” Social Services secretary Laurel Crisan said.

In total, more than 300 workers all sported their purple union t-shirts and were not holding back on their outrage.

“The board of supervisors needs to face us and tell us directly we can’t have health care,” clinical nurse Pat Butcher said.

The county says they don’t comment on negotiations, but told KION “these rallies are a part of the process, and we respect the workers right to do that.”

One of those protesters Randal Wright has worked for the county for 15 years and says what they’ve given to the community is not being reciprocated in wages and health care.

“The last three contracts we’ve given up something to help the way the economy was going now we’re in an economic windfall, which is what I hear now, it’s time for the county to pay us a livable wage, so we can afford to live here,” Wright said.

The current contract expires on June 30.