Pastor Makes Plea to Riverside County Officials for Quality Jobs and Services
June 6, 2008
Pastor asks board to help TAP workers gain benefits
Paul Young
City News Service
A pastor's appeal to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday to address wage and health care concerns of employees in the county's temporary workforce drew an irritated response from board Chair Roy Wilson.
Wilson characterized United Methodist pastor Paula Cripps' comments as a "harangue," and when asked whether he would consider helping county temp workers reach wage and benefit parity with permanent employees, replied, "You're asking nonsense."
Cripps spoke during the board's public comments session, in which the head of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice introduced herself as an advocate for the poor, a number of whom, she said, are workers in the county's Temporary Assistance Program.
"Poverty is still a reality for many people here in Riverside County," Cripps said. "Many of them are the 1,500 TAP workers."
Cripps shared one story of a TAP employee who had lost her home at about the same time "the county foreclosed her job."
"The county dismissed her as she lost her house, after promising her that temp work would lead to a better future with a permanent job," Cripps said. "Are you people of faith? If you are a person of faith, then you must work for the common benefit of all people."
TAP workers make an average 5 percent less than their full-time equivalents and are not eligible for health or retirement benefits, sick leave or vacation time.
In March, an estimated 900 county temporary workers petitioned the county to recognize the Service Employees International Union as the bargaining unit for TAP employees, arguing that its representation would give temps leverage in negotiating for benefits and structured schedules.
Human Resources Department chief Ron Komers denied the petition based on conflicts with the county's eight other collective bargaining units, which represent workers in different fields.
Komers explained that TAP employees fall into a variety of categories that would not qualify them for representation by one union.
In a recent report on the county's Temporary Assignment and Medical Assignment programs, the Human Resources Department said that between 1999 and 2007, the county saved $47 million by filling positions with temporary labor.
In his response to Cripps' comments, Wilson said the unionization issue is out of the board's hands.
"The authority to say 'yes' or 'no' is in the human resources director's hands," Wilson said.
Wilson told Cripps SEIU could file an appeal with the state Public Employees Relations Board.
"If I were you, as a religious leader who cares about these people, I would go back to the union and insist they carry out their duties, rather than just come here, week after week, and harangue a body that does not have the authority to make a decision," Wilson said.