Members of one of the many unions that represent Butte-Silver Bow County employees have authorized a strike, but both sides agreed Thursday to see if differences can be settled through mediation.

Troy Buhl, business representative for International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 88, said it represents about 10 Butte-Silver Bow employees and they have rejected the county’s “last, best and final offer” for a new contract.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that we are going on strike,” Buhl told The Montana Standard on Thursday. “That is an option but we have agreed to go to mediation in the hopes of reaching an agreement that is acceptable to both sides.”

Jim Kambich, chief of staff for Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher, said they are disappointed the machinists voted to authorize a strike.

“But we’re hopeful because we’ve been in these situations throughout the years (where) mediation results in an agreement,” he said. “We’ve been able to agree on a number of items so far but we are divided on wages.”

Butte-Silver Bow local government employs about 500 people and the majority are in unions. The county negotiates with 18 different bargaining units.

Most county employees received a 3-percent pay raise in this year’s budget, but it can be more for some unions depending on negotiations. The contracts include health benefits and touch on numerous other items, including overtime pay.

The machinists repair and maintain over 800 pieces of equipment for the county, including vehicles, but they currently feel “undervalued and under-respected” for the work they do, Buhl said.

In the past, the county would receive numerous applicants from qualified workers when a machinist retired, he said.

“Now they are leaving for better-paying jobs and when that happens, they (the county) only get two or three qualified applicants,” he said.

Kambich said the two sides filed a joint request for mediation Thursday through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.