Strike Looms Before Final Mediation Session between Becker County and Teamsters Local 320

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – A final mediation session for more than 170 Becker County employees represented by Teamsters Local 320 will occur, Saturday.

The Union, which represents 173 Becker County Courthouse and Human Services employees met Tuesday, March 15 with the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation and the County, but no progress was made.

If they don’t come to an agreement on Saturday, a strike will begin on Tuesday, March 22.

Wages and health insurance costs are among the primary issues.

The Union says according to a 2021 wage study, senior Becker County employees would be more than $2.00 below the market rate and with some classifications as much as $13.81 below the market rate regardless of the County’s last and final offer on wages.

“Becker County needs to get serious about increasing wages,” says JoAnn Erickson, Becker County employee. “Menards and Wal-Mart now pay better starting wages than the County.”

The County argues that last year, the average County employee received a 5.75% wage increase, comprised of a 2.75% general wage increase, and another 3% step increase for those employees not at the top of the wage scale.

“While the Union has claimed that certain positions are underpaid, the County has not been provided data supporting this claim. The County has been reviewing the compensation for our employees and have found it to be competitive when evaluated against counties of similar size and tax base,” a press release said, Thursday. “We value our employees and are hopeful that the parties can come to an amicable resolution of this dispute during mediation to avoid a strike”.

The County, however is planning for the potential of a strike and have developed an internal strike plan should the union strike on Tuesday.