Fleet technicians maintaining City of Allentown, Pennsylvania, vehicles are ready to strike if their employer, contractor Centerra Integrated Services, doesn’t come to agreement with the union. The 10 workers say the garage is understaffed, they are paid on average $4 less per hour than comparable municipal technicians, and service is constantly delayed because of underfunding, The Morning Call reported.
The city outsourced fleet maintenance 27 years ago, and in 2017, the union offered a failed proposal to bring maintenance back in house, stating this would save $420,000 over three years — a number the Public Works director disputed.
The vendor maintained staffing levels were adequate, and it provides competitive wages, according to the newspaper.
Update 5/5/21: The workers picketed for a day and agreed to go back to work after the city council agreed to review the contract and hold a public meeting to hear their concerns. Read more at The Morning Call.
