Health district workers get 2.2% raises

The Snohomish Health District will give most of its employees 2.25 percent pay raises next year, plus up to $540 a month for benefits, deputy administrator Rick Mockler said late last week.

The cost of the increases will total about $242,000, he said.

Both union and nonunion workers will receive similar raises, including the public health agency’s two top officials.

Dr. M. Ward Hinds, who makes $123,832, was given a 2.25 percent increase by the health district board, plus an additional 1 percent raise to keep the position’s pay comparable with similar jobs. His total raise will be $4,024.

Mockler, who makes $103,140, will get a 2.25 percent raise.

The agreements were made with unions that represent office workers health educators and nutritionists. The union that represents environmental health workers, who among other tasks inspect restaurants, got a 2.25 percent raise plus an additional 1 percent raise to keep salaries competitive.

Nurses reached an agreement with the public health agency in 2003, and will get 2 percent raise in 2005.

“We value our employees and want to take care of them,” Mockler said.

Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.