MORE THAN 60 new members have been added to the ranks of Council 2 since the start of the year.

But another election has been delayed as a result of actions taken by the employer.

Details:

• On February 8, 20 members of the Skagit County Prosecutor’s staff and the Skagit County Public Defenders office in Mount Vernon joined Council 2.
  
  A sufficient number of employees signed authorization cards to enable the union organization to take place without an election.
  
  Both groups are working with Staff Representative John Cole to put together contract proposals.
• Some 70 percent of 24 para-transit drivers in the Lewis County Senior Transportation Division in Chehalis who signed authorization cards to join Council 2 were certified by the Public Employment Relations Commission May 21.
  
  The group will work with Staff Representative Dennis Bolton to prepare for contract negotiations.
• On January 29 Asotin County Development and Residential Services in Clarkston — representing 20 County mental health care employees — received voluntary recognition from the County after more than 70 percent of the employees signed authorization cards. The County agreed to put them in the existing Local, 1476-AC.
• Forty general government employees at the Adams County Courthouse filed a petition on December 28, 2001 to join Council 2. The petition was signed by 78 percent of the employees.
  
  But actions by the Adams County administration have caused a delay in the start of contract proposals.
  
  First, the County did not agree with a proposal that the bargaining unit be treated as one unit and wanted to split it in three, with one unit for the courthouse, one for probation and one for E-911 and County jailers.
  
  The issue has been referred to a unit clarification hearing as Council 2 contends only the Public Employment Relations Commission can determine a bargaining unit’s makeup.
  
  Second, the County Commissioners voted on April 1 to cut all the hours by those who signed the petition by 20 hours a month, which effectively is a 12.5 percent pay cut.
  
  Council 2 has filed unfair labor practice charges, claiming retaliation and discrimination. The union says the action violates the law requiring employers to maintain all wages and working conditions of employment during an election.
  
  Council 2 is working to get a date set for the hearing. The election process will be delayed pending resolution of the unfair labor practice charges.