My name is Jenny Wilson. I retired from the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency in December of 2020 after 27 years, and I was a proud 27-year member of AFSCME Local 1.
I attended the recent Hold El Dorado Accountable rally held outside the Board of Supervisors’ offices because I wanted to be one more voice for fair wages, and I wanted to learn more about the issues facing Operating Engineers Local 3 members.
They have now been working without a contract for two years.
I want the public to know that County employees work hard and do not take advantage of taxpayer dollars. They keep our roads safe, inspect our buildings to ensure they’re safe, answer emergency dispatch calls to help protect residents’ safety, and so much more.
These workers deserve to be paid a prevailing wage. The turnover in El Dorado County is very high because the salaries the County pays are so low. Being a training ground for other counties deprives El Dorado County of the ability to create and retain experienced and knowledgeable workers.
I would like the public to know that it’s important to have knowledgeable and experienced people on the job. It makes us all safer.
I would also like the Board of Supervisors to respect their employees and show that respect by paying them a prevailing wage. Not paying County employees a decent salary and having a high staff turnover potentially endangers residents in our community.
I want the Board to think about that. I would also like the Board to think about how these men and women can possibly continue to support themselves on the salary they now earn in this County, especially with the cost of housing here being so expensive, as well as the increasing price of food in this current economy.
Thank you.