Bargaining Update – Sept. 28
Closer to Building a Better San Benito County
Today’s bargaining session started with the County presenting their counter proposal to our innovative bargaining proposal to get members on the path to recovery without compromising an investment in staff who provide direct front line services.
The County proposed to provide a $2000 one time bonus and the ability to cash out 25 hours of accrued vacation time, 2 times per year for the year 2016, to help cover costs for insurance. This also included a 1.5% COLA for 2016. While this is progress in getting us closer to a tentative agreement, there is a ways to go to ensure SEIU 521 members are not losing more wages than currently earned, to cover skyrocketing healthcare costs.
This is a step in the right direction but our bargaining want to ensure that we protect and invest in frontline workers who provide valuable Behavioral Health and Health & Human Services to our most vulnerable residents. The continued loss of staff will hurt our County more and we must ensure our bilingual employees are respected for their work and that we continue to provide and safe and healthy working environment so that our staff are not in danger, but the public gets the highest quality of care.
* County’s proposal will be uploaded to the SEIU 521 website on Tuesday morning.
STANDING IN SOLIDARITY
Workers rallied in front of the Sheriff building this evening as our bargaining team presented its counter proposal. The solidarity and strength of our members was felt in the room as we negotiated and discussed recruitment and retention, benefits and healthcare costs.
Our proposal brings us one step closer to an agreement that we believe the County can agree to, based on their one-time reserves that can cover this and still provide reserves for the County to utilize. Our proposal is for a $3000 one time bonus upon ratification and the ability to cash out 25 hours of vacation, CTO or sick, 2 times per year, each calendar year, in addition to a 2% COLA in 2016.
*SEIU 521 proposal will be uploaded to the SEIU 521 website on Tuesday morning.
While there are some minor details to continue discussing, our bargaining team is committed to fighting for a respectable and fair contract that will help us recruit, retain and grow our County workforce to meet the needs of our community, who rely SEIU 521 members every day.
PURPLE UP TOMORROW to continue to support your bargaining team and ensure we stand together as our bargaining team continues negotiations tomorrow morning with the County bargaining team.
