Union protests use of retirees [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080117_17retirees_jen_1a_ART.html

Luzerne County workers representative says consultants take union jobs.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes [e-mail]
Luzerne County Reporter

Eight people who retired from Luzerne County’s 2005 special early-out incentive are still working as consultants for the county – prompting complaints from union workers.

“These people are taking away a union job. They were supposed to be there 1,000 hours for one year, and now we’re going into year three,” said Paula Schnelly, head of the county’s American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union branch.

Additional concerns are also being raised over the way the county is retaining and paying these workers.

The county used to pay the consultants through Wilkes-Barre-based OneSource Staffing Solutions but switched to New York-based Continental Consulting Group Inc.

County Republican minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said the use of Continental was never publicly advertised or approved by the Board of Commissioners as required by law.

County Human Resources Director Doug Richards said the following retirees are still working as consultants: Joseph S. Birosik, building and grounds; Roland Evans, road and bridge; Robert F. McGinley, security; Al Tossi, mapping; Ronald Rugletic, environmental special projects; Salvatore Farinella, sheriff’s department; Russ Otway, Moon Lake; and Stanley L. Perry, Children and Youth.

FULL story at link.