DeWitt County Highway Department union contract negotiations are not going well, and at Thursday night's County Board meeting, employees and their AFSCME representation pleaded with the Board to get involved.

Rob Wickenhauser told the Board - he and his peers are looking for a deal both sides can be happy with.

Wickenhauser indicates the highway employees considered filing paperwork to strike; however, that was met with threats of termination and legal action.

Wickenhauser believes the County highway employees are going above and beyond what is in their job descriptions, in addition to the fact, they are underpaid compared to employees in other parts of the area.

Christina Deangelo with AFSCME Council 31 told the Board employees are scared for their jobs because of the threats of termination and called on the Board to be better informed of the ongoing negotiations.

The union and the County will resume negotiations in early September and remain open to agreeing with the County.