HAMBURG — Years after special laborers in the town of Hamburg were stripped of their titles, the town supervisor behind the decision recently resigned, giving our union leaders and representatives the hope of reinstating special laborers’ titles.
Throughout the past couple years, Hamburg Town Supervisor Randy Hoak stood by his decision to demote town employees’ special laborers’ titles.
Hoak’s choice to rid workers of this title caused great distress to the workers and their families.
Krautsack
“Two of them have young children and all of them have families,” said Town of Hamburg Unit President Reanna Krautsack. “The pay cut that they got, they couldn’t afford.”
From the day of the title demotion, union leaders and representatives took to the forefront and worked vigorously to have these titles reinstated, but experienced continued delay and avoidance of a decision or action on Hoak’s part.
The prolonged battle has weakened morale among unit members and other Building and Grounds Department workers, which led to tension and lack of trust between employees and supervisors.
“Hoak has been a driving force in the breakdown of morale,” said Krautsack. “He has caused chaos and disarray in the shop through his anti-union decisions.”
After Hoak announced his resignation in December 2024, CSEA members are hopeful for a near future decision for the reinstatement of the special laborers’ titles.
Krautsack said she hopes our union will be able to come to the table with the new town board member and reestablish the special laborers’ titles.
“I believe the new board member will be an ally to the union, unlike Hoak ever was,” said Krautsack.
— Sydney Thomas
