In a nearly unanimous vote today, Benton County workers represented by AFSCME Local 2064 ratified a strong three-year contract, following nearly a year of bargaining and five days on the strike line.
Key victories in the contract include:
- $2,500 Ratification Bonus
- Guaranteed Raises: 10.4%–13.4% over three years, plus a market study in year three to align with management’s recent study that yielded 20-40% raises.
- Additional Pay Equity: Three new steps phased in by July 2026, ensuring no worker maxes out their salary steps during the contract term.
- Improved Benefits:
- Full holiday pay for employees on alternative schedules.
- A new HSA match of up to $500 annually.
- The addition of the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday.
- Emergency and Crisis Support Enhancements:
- A 5% differential for work during declared emergencies.
- Increased pay and safety language for QMHAs and Peers responding to after-hours mobile crisis calls.
- Worker Protections: Retained management accountability for providing notice and support when performance concerns arise.
“We are so proud to bring our members a contract that truly values our contributions to our communities, but it was a team effort to get across the finish line,” says Dave Malone, a Land Surveyor with Benton County Public Works and bargaining team member. “This win wouldn’t have been possible without every single person who stood out there on the strike line, sent letters, signed petitions, and supported us at the bargaining table.”
A major highlight of the contract is the upward mobility that some of the lowest paid workers will be able to achieve once the wage study is completed. Closing the pay gap among union-represented and nonunion workers was an early sticking point in negotiations.
“This contract is proof of what we can achieve when we come together. Our strike wasn’t just about wages—it was about dignity, equity, and fairness for all Benton County workers. This agreement is a product of worker solidarity,” says Local 2064 President Dawn Dale.
Following the vote, workers will immediately return to work today, November 20, or at the start of their next regular shift tomorrow, November 21.
