DAVENPORT, Iowa — Davenport public works employees are advocating for higher wages and solutions to staffing shortages. Teamsters Local 238 met Monday morning as contract negotiations with the City continue.
The workers handle responsibilities such as snow removal, trash collection and sewer maintenance. On Monday, the City presented an initial proposal of a 1% wage increase per year in the new contract.
"Our members go above and beyond during floods, snowstorms and derechos," Teamsters Local 238 Business Agent Zach Peterson said. "Yet, they're being offered the bare minimum."
Peterson said one topic of discussion was the low staffing in many departments within Davenport's public works department.
"It's decreased over the course of time, particularly within the last four or five years," Peterson said. "COVID really heightened a lot of those issues. I think it was an issue that existed prior to, but it accelerated that problem, and we have members now that are working an additional job outside of the city just to be able to maintain a household budget."
Public works employees have been pushing for higher wages amidst a shortage of workers for months now. Peterson said some are relying on each other during tough times.
"We have new employees that are rooming together because they can't afford an apartment on their own in the city, and it seems to me that if you're working for the City of Davenport, then you should be able to actually afford to live in the city that you serve," Peterson said.
The City of Davenport has chosen not to comment on the negotiations at this time.
The Teamsters are not satisfied with the offer. Negotiations will continue this week, with the current contract set to expire in June.
Davenport ranks fourth in Iowa for public works wages, with an average hourly rate of $24.29. The top three cities are Ames, Des Moines and Sioux City.