Raises difficult for non-electeds

I find it interesting that all of a sudden, the Snohomish County Council negotiating committee is willing to accept the contract that ASFME presented to them as stated in the article “County, union, reach tentative deal; vote set for March 3.”

I am more than happy for the union employees, some are family and friends to not only myself, but many others throughout Snohomish County. It is sad that it took a threat of a strike to make the county’s negotiating team to agree that the employees are worth the money and benefits.

After doing some research on the county site and looking at the salary commission’s paperwork, it looks like the council members and the executive’s salaries and raises might be reviewed this year.

Isn’t it a little ironic, that the contract was accepted the same year that the council’s pay is going to be reviewed and potentially raised for the next couple years?

I understand that it is the game of politics. I think they call it “strategic planning.” To me it is nothing but manipulation of people’s lives. These blue collar workers who make the county run were having to go without raises and having to take days off of work without pay. Will the council and county executive have to go through that too to get their raises? I doubt it.

Andrea Duffy

Lynnwood