Allegheny County 911 dispatchers union planning one day strike

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Allegheny County 911 dispatchers say they are dealing with extreme staffing shortages and poor working conditions.

They are now preparing to go on strike.

SEIU, the labor union representing them, confirms if a contract deal is not reached, members plan to strike for one day on Saturday, March 12, when thousands of people would crowd the streets for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“It’ll say like, look, you need us. So you have to do something,” said Desirae Day, of Pittsburgh.

That’s the message Pittsburghers feel will be sent if a deal is not reached for the union representing Allegheny County 911 workers.

SEIU Local 668 Business Agent Al Smith says dispatchers have been forced to work 12-hour days in close quarters, with no breaks due to positive Covid tests and other issues.

The staffing inside the Emergency Services Center in Moon Township he says is unacceptable.

“They’re tired of their personal lives being put into disarray. Can you imagine having a doctor’s appointment scheduled and you can’t even go to your doctor’s appointment because you get mandated?” said Smith.

Allegheny County currently has a budget for 259 dispatchers.

However, union officials say there are only 211 employees—a shortage of 48 people.

That’s more than 19% of the jobs not filled.

“The ability to fill the positions is hampered. Right? We think there are better ideas, better solutions and they have to look into those. So we’re stressing that because our members’ health depends on it,” said Smith.

Their latest problem is a proposal to eliminate overtime and continue working long shifts.

Union officials say their members are stuck in the middle of a public safety and health crisis.

“Our dispatchers are some of the best in the world. We are very proud of them. They’re working hard. A lot of times they get forgotten about, and we’re not gonna allow that,” said Darrin Kelly, president of The Allegheny Fayette Labor Council.

The union goes back to the table to negotiate this Friday.

If there’s no deal—they will strike on March 12th.

Channel 11 reached out to Allegheny County officials about the ongoing contract negotiations.

A spokesperson told us:

“The contract with SEIU just expired at the end of the year and we have met with the union representatives more than a dozen times to date. We’ve met with them each time they’ve asked as well as continued to meet with them on scheduled dates. Their members include clerical and administrative staff as well as TCOs and forensic investigators. These employees are found in departments including Administrative Services, Court Records, Emergency Services, Jail, Medical Examiner’s Office and the independently elected offices.

In the past year, we have reached agreements with 12 of 14 unions with expired contracts; of those, 10 have been finalized and ratified and two are pending ratification. The SEIU is one of just two unions with an outstanding contract. We bargain with all of our labor partners in good faith and will continue to do so.”

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