AFSCME Local 1485 Members Feel the Union Difference in York County

Members of AFSCME Local 1485 are celebrating the ratification of a new contract that raises wages, improves PTO structure, and provides the dedicated workers of York County the stability they need to continue delivering vital services to their communities.

Local 1485 represents workers in the county’s departments of Parks, 911, Assessment, Voter Services, Fleet Management, and Facilities.

For the county’s 911 dispatchers, the agreement is especially meaningful. As the first point of contact in emergencies, their work is high-pressure and non-stop, making strong workplace protections and fair compensation essential.

“This is exactly why you have a union,” said Barbara Bowles, a 911 dispatcher who served on the negotiating team with her fellow members.

“Without a contract, employers can take advantage of 911 workers. Having that protection ensures we’re paid fairly and gives us better balance on the job.”

Rich Beaverson, a Local 1485 negotiator and employee in the Parks Department, is grateful that an unfair gap in the Paid Time Off policy was corrected in the new contract.

“Through negotiations, we were able to backdate everything on the new contract to include the PTO plan, so those of us that started in 2022 under the old plan are getting an extra week a year,” Rich explained.

The newly reached four-year agreement brings clarity and stability, something workers across departments say makes a real difference — a union difference — in their day-to-day work.

For Local 1485 President Joyce Vandersloot, that impact is felt across county operations, from her work in Assessment and beyond.

“Feeling confident in your pay structure and knowing you’re protected by being part of a union means a lot to all of us,” she said.

“The union difference means protection, security, and knowing that the work we do matters to how the county operates every day.”

This agreement ultimately ensures that York County workers can continue showing up every day ready to serve the public, including in critical roles like 911 dispatch, where every second counts.

By securing a strong contract, AFSCME Local 1485 members are not only protecting themselves — they’re strengthening the services York County residents rely on every day.