By LOU WHEELAND

Special to The Press

Teamsters Union Local 773 which represents South Whitehall Township Public Works Department voted to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 5.

According to Brian Taylor, business agent with Local 773, the workers’ contract expired Dec. 31, 2020.

Employees, however, continued to work while negotiations were ongoing.

The union met for six negotiation sessions with township Manager Renee Bickel, and lawyers from the firm of Eckert Seamans, but were unable to reach an agreement.

The issues at hand, according to Taylor, were an increase in the cost of health care to the employees; an unrealistic wage increase of only 1 percent, and a dramatic change in short term disability care for employees.

According to Taylor, if the township needs plowing in the event of future snow storms, they will have to pay contract plowing services up to $96,000.

This is the price the township pays for third-party summer mowing, he said.

Bickel provided the following information to The Press on Feb. 8. She also noted negotiations with the union were scheduled for later that afternoon.

“In the face of the decision of some of the township’s employees and the union representing them to initiate a strike, South Whitehall Township remains committed to negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with our public works employees,” Bickel wrote.

“We currently provide a comprehensive salary and benefit package to our employees, which includes the items summarized.” (See Salary, Benefits)

“The township remains committed to our residents, businesses and visitors,” Bickel wrote. “The township has made appropriate arrangements to ensure services continue to be provided.”

Bickel emailed The Press the following update on Feb. 9.

“We continued discussions with the Union and mediator for several hours yesterday and will meet again tomorrow as planned.”