Friday, May 30, 2008
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
MERCER, Pa. — Social workers employed by Mercer County Children and Youth Services don’t think that 44 cents per mile is enough to compensate them for use of their cars on county business.
Janet Nichols, shop steward for the CYS bargaining unit of Service Employees International Union/Pennsylvania Social Services Union, said the union has requested the county reopen negotiations on mileage reimbursement. Bill Boyle, the county’s director of administrative services, said Thursday the county will meet with union representatives June 11 for initial talks.
The county had raised all county employees’ mileage reimbursement from 40 to 44 cents May 22 because of climbing gas prices. Nichols, however, had earlier sent a letter to commissioners requesting 50 cents.
County employees are represented by several unions, but Boyle said the social workers’ union is the only one that has asked to renegotiate the mileage reimbursement.
He said that because of the request, the union will not receive the mileage increase when it goes into effect for other employees Sunday.