KLZA-- The Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations met last week on Thursday to hear the case filed by the Nebraska Association of Public Employees / AFSCME Local 61, the union representing the workers in the Richardson County Highway Department.

The hearing is to determine wages and terms and conditions of employment.

Testifying on behalf of the Highway Department were employees Brian Dettman, Ronald Ramer, Randy Gilsdorf, Donald Goff, Larry Willman and Matt Bletscher. The testimony included descriptions of the work they perform for the County.

The Union also called Mark Murphy, Associate Director of the Union's Department of Research and Collective Bargaining Services located in Washington, D.C. as an expert witness. Murphy was called to present his expert opinion on wages and fringe benefits in seven counties selected by the CIR for comparison to Richardson County.

Richardson County Representatives raised numerous objections to Murphy's testimony, which led to the Union requesting the hearing be continued in order for it to resolve the objections from the County.

Both parties agreed to continue the hearing to March 16 and 17 and the CIR ordered the case be continued at that time.

Information for this story was in a release from the Richardson County Clerk's Office.