Bargaining Update #15

Glossary

CCL: Current Contract Language

COLA: Cost of Living Adjustment

PIC: Person in Charge

TA: Tentative Agreement or Tentatively Agreed

Since we’re past the initial proposal period, all Articles or Addendums talked about going forward are Counter Proposals either from our Union or the County.

No Articles were Tentatively Agreed (TA’d) to during this week’s session, but we identified two Current Contract Language (CCL) Articles to discuss next session. Transparency is one of our leading values during this year’s bargaining cycle. We’ll be sharing all proposals from the Union and County, and can be found in this published proposals folder.

Proposals

Union Counter Proposals

Addendum F: Department of Library Services

Management has questions about our proposal to determine PIC shift bidding by Countywide seniority. They’ll be sending our Union a more detailed list of concerns so we can answer them accurately and thoughtfully.

Addendum H: Drug and Alcohol Policy

Added explicit references to two federal statutes that protect our employees, Garrity Rights and Loudermill Rights.
- Garrity Rights make sure government employees’ statements made during work investigations can’t be used to incriminate them in any subsequent criminal hearings.
- Loudermill Rights protects employees against adverse actions that would result in job loss, suspension or demotion by a public employer. It’s required to give employees proper notice and the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

County Counter Proposals

Addendum I: Office of the Sheriff

Management denied our proposal to limit the number of shift bids.
They also amended our proposed language to reintroduce discipline for employees (not On-Call) who do not answer their phones outside working hours.
- Our Union requested management provide examples of just cause for discipline in these situations.

Article 12: Workers’ Compensation and Supplemental Benefits

Management agreed to our proposal to expand the use of leave from only sick time to any paid leave bank (Vacation, Saved Holiday, etc) for employees waiting for their benefits to kick in.

Article 16: Pensions

Management proposed CCL

Article 17: Disciplinary Action

Management agreed to CCL after we denied their first Counter Proposal.

Action Items & Events

Our Union still believes everyone deserves a living wage. The County’s most recent Counter Proposal maintains the COLA rates as they already are, which does not meet the need for a Living Wage for our employees. We need your voice to make future compensation counter proposals stronger! Tell the County how a Living Wage would Change Your Life. Some worksites also have stations for you to fill out a Green post-it answering the same question. If not and you’d like one, please reach out to us at bargaining@afscmelocal88.org and we’ll work with you to get one setup.
There’s only one more public budget hearing left to give your testimony. It’s fully virtual, May 28th from 6pm to 8pm. Check this webpage for the virtual meeting link.

Please keep emailing the Bargaining Team at bargaining@afscmelocal88.org with your questions and concerns. Follow Local 88 on Instagram and Facebook and check out the AFSCME Local 88 website to stay up to date on all our Local’s news.

We appreciate you reading our updates, observing our bargaining sessions, and repping your Union pride in Green, changing your work backgrounds and profile pictures. These actions make a difference! Stay strong and stay united!

Bargaining Update – May 27, 2025