Bargaining Update #14

Thank you to everyone who has been continuing to show their union solidarity during bargaining, including wearing green on Thursdays, changing your virtual backgrounds, and participating in our actions- it is working.   

This week’s bargaining session was a big day.  Our union team accomplished a lot, including reaching several Tentative Agreements with the County and seeing real progress with some of the County’s counter proposals.  

First, here is the big news- we received our first counter proposal on Article 14: Wages from the County. As you know, our opening wage proposal to the County swung for the fences.  The County’s response this week was what we expected from a first counter proposal and we’re hopeful that we can continue to build from here.  

County Proposals (all still in bargaining, no tentative agreements)

• • Article 14: Compensation.  
    • The County proposed a 2.4% cost of living increase for the first year, and a cost of living range between 1%-4% depending on the Consumer Price Index for the following years.  This is the same method to calculate wage increases to what we had last year.  
    • Proposed increasing the Comp Time cap to 96 hours
    • Agreed to the unions proposal to increase the KSA differential to 5%
    • As a Bargaining Team, we will thoughtfully consider this proposal and the County’s position as we determine the best way for us to respond in our Counter. 

• Article 19: Modification of Work Performed by the Bargaining Unit

• • • The County did not agree to nearly all of our language regarding limitations on “contracting out”
    • Our current contract language already provides language to protect our union from contracting out but our union maintains that this language could be improved

• Article 21 Seniority and Layoff:

• • • The County agreed to some of our proposed language to improve the recall process, including to extend the right of laid-off employees to be recalled back to work after 36 months if a position is available.  That is an extra year of protection for those of us being affected by this year’s lay-off process.  

• Article 29: Termination (refers to length of our contract)

• • The County proposed language that both parties would agree to begin bargaining in November before contract expiration. 

Union Counter Proposals 

• Article 10: Other Leaves

• • • We proposed the ability to use unpaid leave first during an unpaid leave of absence- rather than needing to burn through all accrued paid leave first
    • We proposed increasing Bereavement Leave to 5 days, and added in loss of pregnancy and loss of colleague for acceptable uses of Bereavement Leave
    • Proposed several changes to improve Immigration and Citizenship Leave, like lifting the 40 hour cap.
    • We proposed Trauma Leave, to help members have the ability to not lose pay if they need time to recover from a work-related and non-work related trauma.

• Article 12: Workers Compensation

• Article 17: Disciplinary Action

• • We rejected the County’s proposal and counter proposed current contract language

Tentative Agreements

• Article 11- Health and Welfare

• Article 23- Personnel Rules and Records

• Article 28- Entire Agreement

• Addendum C- Premium Pay and Other Special Provisions

• Addendum D- Emergency Conditions

• Addendum J- Health Department

Actions and Information:

• As always you can find bargaining proposals on our website for more information. 
• We also need to hear from you.  Go to our website so you can learn how to participate in our latest action- sharing what a living wage would mean for you or does mean for you.  We will be using these testimonials at the bargaining table, your voice and story matter!