District Attorney Rich Consiglio is trying to advocate higher salaries for his victim witness employees, but the union isn’t releasing grand funding easily.
“It’s so… I don’t like the word frustrated because that’s sissy to me, but it makes me damn mad,” Consiglio said.
Victim witnesses take care of all victims of crime in the county; they deal with victims of murder, rape, domestic and child abuse, etc.
The state average starting salary is $29,000. The employees in Consiglio’s office start at $16,000.
“We are the lowest paid unit in the state by far,” he said.
A $310,000 federal grant is available to be dispersed over three years to increase these salaries and benefits. Consiglio is fighting for his employees to see any of that money.
“Through the HR director at the first meeting we had about this would not recommend that,” Consiglio said. “She recommended something in the neighborhood of $22,000. Where she gets the authority to do that, I don’t know. The union actually recommended more than that but it was only $23,000 or $24,000.”
“I’m frustrated. I’m sad. I’m disappointed. My heart breaks for my staff,” said victim witness coordinator Sue Griep. “They have been loyal for 16 years, each of them. The three of us together have 58 years of experience in the victim witness field.”
Consiglio said he thinks the commissioners are on his side, but their hands are tied.
“The employees in question, the positions in question, are part of a collective bargaining unit, which requires negotiation between the county and the union,” commissioner Bruce Erb said. “And if the union, this is the amount that was negotiated between the two parties, we are, by the contract, required to follow that.”
“I’m not blaming [the commissioners], but I do blame HR and the union,” Consiglio said.
A salary board meeting was held early Monday morning, and the recommended salary dropped even lower to $23,000 per year. Consiglio said he’s not sure what else he can do moving forward. He hopes he can retain his staff.
