County union files grievances
The union representing about 140 Butler County union workers who have no new contract is filing two grievances with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board over treatment of two employees.
Laura Kowalski, business agent for the Service Employees International Union 668, claimed today that a violation occurred two weeks ago when county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton cited an employee's work history at a public meeting.
Pinkerton on Feb. 3 incensed union representatives by listing the 2009 call-offs and other work record details for Laurie Kubli, a Children and Youth Services caseworker.
"He violated her rights," Kowalski claimed after today's commissioners meeting.
Pinkerton, board chairman, said during the meeting that Kubli's work record was presented only to show the good benefits available to county workers.
Kubli disagreed.
"I feel like I was denigrated at the last meeting," she said.
"I earned those days off," she said.
The dispute began at the Feb. 3 meeting in which union representatives protested the lack of a new contract for employees, including human services workers and 911 dispatchers, whose last pact expired Nov. 30, 2008.
Kowalski said the second grievance was filed in response to an incident that occurred during an internal county meeting earlier this year.
"Because there was a labor official personally attacked," she alleged.
Kowalski wouldn't release any information about that case.
