Bucks County Social Service Employees To Strike On Friday

DOYLESTOWN, PA — More than 300 members of SEIU 668, representing Bucks County's social services employees, will strike on Friday at the Bucks County government complex in Doylestown Borough.

The union, which represents more than 500 Bucks County employees, voted in July to reject the county's "Last, Best and Final Offer" with a vote of 99.6 percent against ratification. They followed that with a vote on Sept. 11 to authorize a strike.

“The county’s last proposal has demanded massive cuts to healthcare benefits," said Edward Berger, a SEIU 668 Negotiating Team Member and 24-year employee of Bucks County. "Union members worked with the county in our 2020 contract negotiations and accepted small wage increases due to the urgency of pandemic conditions. Bucks County’s essential public workers deserve a fair contract that protects our healthcare, not a cut to our hard-earned benefits."

The workers have been without a contract since the beginning of 2024 when the two sides entered into contract bargaining discussions. SEIU Local 668 represents around 500 workers employed by numerous Bucks County agencies, including 911, Children and Youth Services, the Area Agency on
Aging, and the IT Department, as well as Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol support, Early Intervention, and Developmental Programs.

In a statement, the county said it is "aware of the planned one-day work stoppage and has arranged for supervisors to fill in for striking staff Friday to ensure the public is served without delay. This administration stands ready to continue negotiating to reach a fair salary and benefits package for our valued employees and looks forward to welcoming them back to work on Monday."

Members of the union, including 28-year employee and 25-year shop steward Christine Galione, packed the commissioners' meeting on Wednesday held just days before their planned work action in a show of solidarity.

"We are the departments you give proclamations to at these commissioner meetings, but then during negotiations you show us that we are of no value," said Galione. "For years I have negotiated contracts. I have never seen anything like this - a county negotiating team who wants to take benefits away from us. And frankly, it's embarrassing."

In 2020, Galione said they union members worked with the county to weather the COVID crisis by accepting smaller wage increases. "We did that with the understanding that this contract would honor the work we have done for Bucks County and pay our good will forward," she said. "Unfortunately, Bucks County would rather gut our healthcare.

Commissioners Chairwoman Diane Ellis-Marseglia, who has been a strong advocate for the county's social and human services departments and employees, said it was particularly hard to hear some of the comments said during the meeting.

"This is the first time the commissioners have ever gotten involved in a negotiations ... We don't generally get involved in negotiations, but that's how important this is," she told the union members. "But the one thing I will tell you, the people who are your business managers and agents have not told you what we offered. We offered financially the biggest offer we've given any union in the county's history as far back as I can remember.

"But I know they haven't told you what that is," she said. "I have never suggested that we cut your health and welfare. I ask that you ask them what the offer was that we made to you. If they won't tell you, you know what my email is."