More Whatcom County workers will be taking unpaid leave as cost-cutting measure
Non-union Whatcom County employees will be taking unpaid leave within the next three months in the face of budget shortfalls from the economic downturn caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.
Salary cuts approved by the County Council on Tuesday, July 7, affect department heads, managers, supervisors, professional staff, support staff, health department, court reporters, court commissioners, and Sheriff’s Office management staff, according to a report from the County Executive’s Office.
Employees whose jobs are 80% or more related to the pandemic will have until the end of 2020 to take their leave.
“There will be impacts to our response,” Health Director Erika Lautenbach said at a Whatcom County Council committee meeting Tuesday.
Wage cuts approved Tuesday affect 167 employees and have a savings of $306,160, said Tyler Schroeder, assistant county executive.
These non-union workers join members of the Teamsters Local 231 in taking work furloughs of 32 hours before Sept. 12, the council decided at its meeting Tuesday.
Furloughs for Teamsters and non-union workers account for more than $850,000 in savings in the 2020 budget.
County officials are asking members of its other unions for similar wage concessions.
Seven bargaining units represent Whatcom County employees, according to the Whatcom County website and its 2019-2020 budget document.
There are 853 full-time and 60 part-time employees, the county’s Human Resources Department told The Herald.
Meanwhile, County Council members on Tuesday discussed ways that elected officials could share in the economic hardship felt by county employees and others.
“As elected (officials) if we’re going to ask staff to take a salary cut, we need the option, or we need to consider doing the same to match the same level,” Councilman Rud Browne said at a committee meeting Tuesday.
Salaries for elected officials such as council members and the county executive are set by a local committee and there might not be a legal way for elected officials to return their pay, council members said.
Councilwoman Kathy Kershner and County Executive Satpal Sidhu said it is possible for an elected official to donate their salary.
“It’s everybody’s personal decision either to donate back to the county or back to a charity of their choice,” Sidhu said.
