MontCo Council Rejects Leggett's Budget Proposal

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The Montgomery County Council voted yesterday to reject County Executive Ike Leggett’s budget recommendations on healthcare and retirement, “sending us back to the bargaining table,” reports UFCW Local 1994/MCGEO. “All three of the Montgomery County Government unions (Local 1994, the FOP, and the IAFF) will begin negotiations with representatives from the County Council and the Executive tomorrow,” says the union. “The Council will be looking for cost savings and we are committed to an approach that does not reduce our members’ take home pay or their quality of benefits.” The workers reportedly have nine days to reach a tentative agreement. “Things will be moving very quickly,” adds the union, saying that area union members’ activism and solidarity “are key to winning a fair contract.”