New Castle County reaches deal with another union

There will be no layoffs for AFSCME Local 1607 following the union’s agreement to continue a 5% salary rollback that was implemented during last year’s budget crunch.

There will be no layoffs for AFSCME Local 1607 following the union’s agreement to continue a 5% salary rollback that was implemented during last year’s budget crunch.

During his budget address last month, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons told members of three unions that had not agreed to continue the salary cuts that there would be layoffs if a deal couldn’t be reached.

Earlier this month Local 459, which represents parks and maintenance workers, agreed to the continued cuts, and now that Local 1607 which represent clerical and technical workers has also agreed, that leaves only Local 3109 facing layoffs.  County officials say negotiations with Local 3109, which represents supervisors and managers, are expected to be completed next week.

Coons says, “Another year of salary rollbacks is a difficult but necessary choice to keep our county in good financial health.”

County Council is expected to vote on the budget on May 25.