AFSCME Local 517 union members employed by Washington County have voted to authorize a strike and reject the county’s latest contract offer. The decision comes after months of negotiations between the union and county officials over terms including wages, healthcare costs, and work conditions.

Contract Terms and Union Response

A spokesman for AFSCME Local 517, which represents 800 county employees, said the vote was necessary in case the two parties do not mutually reach a fair agreement in mediation. The union has called for a better deal, particularly on healthcare and mental health protections, which they say were ignored in the county’s proposal.

Washington County officials said they had made a ‘competitive’ three-year offer on wages and health care to AFSCME union members. This includes a 9-percent wage increase over three years for all employees, plus an additional 11 percent over the same period for those not yet at the top of their pay range. The county also proposed to cover more than 80 percent of health insurance cost increases in 2026 and the following two years, with employees responsible for the remaining 20 percent.

Deputy County Administrator Jennifer Wagenius said the proposal mirrors agreements accepted by five other county unions representing county supervisors, correctional officers, correctional and 911 supervisors, probation officers, and public works employees, including engineers and maintenance workers. ‘We value our employees and the service they provide to the community and will continue working to reach an agreement,’ Wagenius said.

Union Concerns and Retaliatory Measures

In a statement posted on the union’s website, President Ben Henry wrote that union leadership made it clear to county officials that healthcare and mental-health protections were critical issues, ‘and the county chose to brush those concerns aside.’ He criticized the county for not addressing these issues and for what he described as a retaliatory response to the members rejecting the contract.

Henry said that some county departments ‘in a retaliatory response to the members rejecting the contract, haphazardly called all employees back into the office.’ ‘We condemn this decision,’ he wrote. ‘When an institution feels cornered, it lashes out. Anything they can do to divide us, they will try. But it is not greedy to expect dignified work, fair pay, fair benefits, and staffing levels that allow us to serve residents of Washington County effectively.’

County Administrator Kevin Corbid said Thursday that two departments—community services and IT—had called employees back in to the office to ‘help with the strike planning.’ ‘The two departments where we did have a lot of people out working remotely, we did bring them back in temporarily to help with the planning,’ he said. ‘Once they get the plan set up for divisions, then we’ll return to the remote-work agreements that we’ve had in place for a while.’

Public Support and Next Steps

AFSCME Local 517 union members have collected nearly 2,000 signatures ‘in support of their calls for a fair-contract agreement,’ according to a press release from AFSCME. Union members plan to rally at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater and deliver the petition to the five members of the county board at the start of the 9 a.m. board meeting.

According to the union, the vote to authorize a strike is a last-resort measure to ensure the county understands the seriousness of their demands. Negotiations are set to resume Friday, and a mediated session has been scheduled for April 17 if needed. The outcome of these talks could have significant implications for the county’s workforce and public services.

Local residents and workers have expressed concern over the potential impact of a strike on essential services. Some have called for the county and union to find a middle ground to avoid disruptions. Others have voiced support for the union’s demands, particularly around healthcare and fair wages.

Analysts suggest that the dispute reflects a broader trend in public sector labor negotiations across the country. Similar strikes and contract disputes have occurred in other states, often over issues of healthcare, pension benefits, and job security. The situation in Washington County could set a precedent for future negotiations in the region.

As the standoff continues, both sides are under pressure to reach a resolution. The county has emphasized its commitment to maintaining fair and competitive compensation, while the union insists that the current offer fails to address key concerns. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether a strike is ultimately necessary.