Union workers at Washington County Housing Authority on strike

Oct 2, 2024 By Mike Jones 4 min read

Nearly three-dozen maintenance and clerical workers with the Washington County Housing Authority hit the picket lines Tuesday morning after their union contract expired at midnight without an agreement.

The 20 maintenance workers and 12 clerical employees with Teamsters Local 585 on strike means service calls and other assistance with Section 8 vouchers requested by residents at the 17 housing facilities across Washington County are going unanswered.

Harold Close, who serves as the local union’s principal officer, said the impasse is centered around proposed wage increases over the next three years that amount to a combined total of $36,567, which is just over $1,000 more per month over the span of the contract.

“I don’t think a thousand dollars a month over the next 36 months is too much to ask for,” Close said about the overall increase in the contract for the union workers. “We need a fair and liveable wage.”

The 32 maintenance and clerical employees serve 1,100 apartment units in 17 county housing authority facilities located in Washington, Canonsburg, Monongahela, Donora, North Charleroi, California, Bentleyville, Fredericktown and New Eagle. Two Section 8 housing inspectors are also on strike, meaning private landlords who deal with the housing authority are impacted if they receive federal subsidies.

“There aren’t people answering the phone to get them their vouchers to help them get into the program,” Close said of the ramifications of the strike. “The housing authority, although they’ve never said they don’t have any money, said they feel this is the deal they’re going to give them.”

Close said the union is asking for about a $2,000 total increase in the first year of the contract, with $14,000 and $19,000 increases overall in years two and three. He said the current wages are so low that 70% of the striking workers qualify for Section 8 housing.

Eight union members were seen picketing Tuesday morning outside the housing authority’s administrative offices at Crumrine Tower in Washington. Several passing motorists honked their car horns to show support, and a person on a motorized scooter raised a fist in solidarity while riding on the sidewalk.

“Let’s go workers! Labor rights!” the person shouted while scooting past the picket line.

Union leaders and housing authority officials began meeting at 9 a.m Tuesday as part of mediation through the state in an attempt to come to an agreement, although it was not immediately clear if any progress had been made.

Washington County Housing Authority Director Stanley Shook was not available for comment Tuesday morning because he was engaged in the bargaining session with union officials. However, authority solicitor Sam Dalfonso issued a written statement stating that they were “working to ensure that services are continued to be provided to our residents and their health and safety are maintained” during the strike.

“Throughout the negotiations the Authority has worked towards raising the employees’ wages, but that goal post has been moved by the union and their negotiating committee,” Dalfonso said. “As the Authority continued to raise its offer, the union chose to raise its demands. This includes voting down the Authority’s offer to accept the union’s most recent proposal before raising their demands.”

Dalfonso said they have offered the union wage increases without touching benefits, but the contract offer was rejected. He added the authority will continue to bargain in “good faith,” with negotiations expected to continue next week, although there is no timeline on when the strike might be settled.

Washington County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman said he is hoping the two sides can come to an agreement quickly.

“I’m planning on going over there to meet with the Teamsters, and we’re also making phone calls to the housing authority’s board and executive director to hopefully get this resolved in a timely manner,” Sherman said.