County workers intended to strike Tuesday, March 15, but officials said Wednesday the strike was called off after an agreement was reached by both parties

Employees had announced their intent to strike after negotiations for wage increases extended for months. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 668 notified Butler County commissioners of their intention on March 4 in an effort to receive a fair contract.

The strike would have affected offices such as Children & Youth Services and the Area Agency on Aging.

“It was called off because the parties reached a settlement,” Chris Gabriel, the county’s chief negotiator, said Wednesday. “The county would have no further comment at this time except that it appreciates the efforts of the employees and their representatives to reach the settlement.”

Gabriel said negotiations with the union representatives began nearly nine months ago in preparation for the expiration of the 2022 contract on Dec. 31. Those negotiations included percentage wage increases for workers.

Gabriel explained that unions represent different types of county employees and that contracts with the other groups have been settled.

“The county offered (SEIU) a settlement that’s more than what’s been offered to any other bargaining unit,” he said. “And they still weren’t satisfied.”

He added that strikes of this type are not common, as the county workers involved are under the state’s Act 195, or the Public Employee Relations Act. This act states that employers cannot pay their workers or continue their health care while they’re on strike.

At Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting, chairwoman Leslie Osche said the commissioners are glad a tentative agreement was reached with the union early Saturday morning and that the potential work stoppage was averted.

She said union members are voting on the contract and the commissioners hope vote on it at the March 29 meeting.

Eric Dodd, chair of the SEIU Local 668 chapter, could not be reached for comment.