Mariposa County employees have made big changes in the last few months: First we won agency shop, now we've bargained for and won a new three-year contract that's fair to our members.
 I really think the agency shop election helped us win this contract,  says Susie Gordo, chapter president and a member of the bargaining team. The tone at the bargaining table was very calm and professional.
Pam Hawkins and Mary O'Shea hold up the official Mariposa County contract ballot. |
Bargaining Team member Pam Hawkins agreed: The County was very easy to work with. There was very friendly compromise on both sides. It was a totally different tone this time.
The two biggest benefits gained in this contract, according to Gordo, is a 4 percent raise for each year of the contract and a significant decrease in the amount an employee has to pay for their health insurance coverage.
Employees previously paid about $400 a month to insure their family. They will see an immediate savings of nearly $140 on their paycheck, Gordo said.
Gordo also said that joining SEIU and then voting to be an agency shop also helped with the yearly raises. We received a 3 percent increase in our initial one-year contract, but prior to joining with SEIU, only received 2 to 2.5 percent increases each year.
Hawkins says this new contract not only affects current employees by giving them a better standard of living, but also will help the Mariposa County workforce for the long-term.
We will be able to recruit and retain long-term employees because of the increase in wages and less expensive healthcare coverage, Hawkins says. Now we're going to have some stability in our workforce.
Hawkins also pointed out that AOD Counselors will now receive a $300 monthly stipend, and stipends for those employees with a Master's Degree will increase by $100. We also got a 3 percent equity increase for our facilities maintenance workers, Hawkins says. They have been underpaid for so many years and now they are being recognized for the important work they perform. |
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Miguel Camacho of Mariposa
County gives the thumbs up
during contract voting.
The new contract also sets up several first-ever Joint Labor/Management Committees. One will convene to rework employee job descriptions so they more closely follow those in other counties around the state. Another committee will look at the County's pension plan unfunded liability.
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 Mariposa County Contract Summary
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