Updated information about contract talks involving county employees and city employees

Earlier this month, Teamsters Union representative Dan MacDonald met with county supervisors to urge them to immediately increase the wages and benefits offered to jailers in order to resolve a staffing shortage at the jail.  (http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2019/01/21267.html)

As part of his appearance, MacDonald told supervisors, "The starting wage for (Winneshiek County) jailers is $5/hour less than in many other counties."

decorahnews.com has learned that the actual pay figures reveal a different story:

Winneshiek County: $15.06/hour starting pay; $18.67/hour top pay
Fayette County: $14.92/hour starting pay; $18.34/hour top pay
Clayton County: $16.61/hour starting pay; $18.85/hour top pay
Chickasaw County: $16.05/hour starting pay; $18.96/hour top pay
Buchanan County: $14.48/hour starting pay; $18.08/hour top pay
Allamakee County (currently): $14.48/hour starting pay; $18.75/hour top pay
Allamakee County (as of July 1st): $16.91/hour starting pay; $21.18/hour top pay.

That places the average starting pay at $15.50/hour and the average top pay at $18.97.  Winneshiek County's pay scale is less than 50 cents below the average jailer pay in NE Iowa.

Meanwhile, there's word from Decorah City Hall as well--the two city employees unions--AFSCME Local 3483 mixed collective bargaining unit and AFSCME Decorah Public Library bargaining unit--will meet at City Hall Monday morning to exchange contract proposals for 2019-2020.