So is anyone following the Montgomery County budget? Re: labor contracts.

[Anonymous]

A joint committee just voted to have certain parts of the contracts voided, like the make-up steps (salary increases) from the recession. Raises go from 8% down to 4.5% for regular County employees. I think Council votes on the whole thing Tuesday. The argument is they want more services restored, instead of huge compensation increases. Also wanted the Board of Education to put money to decreasing class sizes and/or trying to address the opportunity gap.

I personally think it's a wise move, but I wonder if full Council will vote for it?

[Anonymous]

Sounds good to me

[Anonymous]

8% raises would be crazy.

[Anonymous]

Well, what happened?

[Anonymous]

The Council voted for the decrease on Tuesday. I'm really impressed, personally. Instead of 8% it's now 4.5% for most workers. An average of 5% for teachers.

[Anonymous]

5 percent sounds good to me - even taking account of the zero increases during the recession. I think it still leaves salaries competitive with other counties/states...

[Anonymous]

Thread here:
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/552744.page

[Anonymous]

It is funny that the "sanctity of contracts" doesn't apply to workers. This is a short sighted move by the council. Next time they ask the unions to forgo contracts to "help out" in lean times they will rightly refuse.