Armstrong County Children Youth and Family Services caseworkers made their grievances visible as they initiated a one-day strike outside the Armstrong County Courthouse last Friday, pressing the point of long-unresolved wage disputes that have left positions unfilled and workers strained. The strike came after seven months of negotiations, as TribLIVE reported. SEIU Local 668 President Steve Cantanese expressed that the protest aimed to secure salaries capable of attracting and retaining employees essential for the safety of the county’s children.

Armstrong County is classified as a sixth-class county, and among its peers, it reportedly offers the lowest starting wage rates for caseworkers in child welfare, those with the strike asserting that the starting pay of $16 an hour is insufficient for living expenses. This has resulted in difficult choices for employees like caseworker Hayden Wolf, who shared with TribLIVE that to cover necessary bills, one must "pick and choose," compromising the quality of life for survival. County Commissioner Chairman John Strate acknowledged the financial pressures, pointing out the county's struggles with depopulation and a dwindling tax base, which affect the ability to raise wages.

Despite the fiscal limitations detailed by Strate, there seems to be movement from both parties. Union negotiators are persistently chasing a multiyear contract that could increase base wages significantly. The county's latest offer included a raise from $16 to $18.75 per hour and a dutiful increase of an average of 21% over the lifespan of a four-year contract, as detailed by a WTAE report. Cantanese underscored the gravity of caseworkers' roles, involving high-risk situations for child protection and a responsibility demanding fair compensation reflecting the skilled and perilous nature of the job.