BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A group of City of Bellingham workers say they are getting significantly less benefits than others employed by the city.

About half a dozen city workers stood on the corner of Cornwall Avenue and Magnolia Street Monday morning with neon paper picket signs asking for drivers to honk in support of fair wages.

They were not striking, however. One worker said that they were raising awareness about the ongoing bargaining inside the Federal Building directly behind them.

Their union, Local 1937, represents non-uniformed city employees in departments like parks, public works and libraries. According to their representatives, the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, these employees cannot afford moderate housing with their current wages.

The guild points to other major disparities between benefits given to other union employees and those of Local 1937. The guild says they have been bargaining with the city for a new contract for over a year now.