Victory for Valley Air Employees

Photo above: Bakersfield Group

About 250 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District employees in Fresno, Bakersfield and Modesto won an 11 percent raise over three years, plus significant disciplinary and union rights in their contract approved by the Valley Air Board April 16. The agreement was previously ratified by 92 percent of those voting.

"With your help and support, we have accomplished some extraordinary things that we have never done before. Our contract contains 24 agreements: Everything from hirdparty arbitration for disciplinary actions to eliminating the 120 hour 'use it or lose it' annual leave policy. The future possibilities are endless."
- Robert Rinaldi
Air Quality Engineer II


The new contract goes into effect with the following:
- 3.5% pay raise retroactive to October 25, 2008
- 3.5% pay raise in October 2009
- 4% pay raise in October 2010
- Weingarten Rights added to contract
- Disciplinary actions with just cause and option of third party hearing officer
- Union representation rights
- 27 hours of paid bereavement leave (was 24 hours)
- Enhanced annual leave
- Added ability to donate annual leave time for pregnancy leave
- Additional $20 per pay period bilingual pay
- 9-hour floating holiday (instead of 8 hours)
- Part-time employees can choose to participate in employee health plan with a 50 percent employer contribution or they can opt out of health plan
- Union bulletin boards will be allowed
- Employees may display union affiliation with pins, mousepads, lanyards, etc.

"In these tough economic times, this new contract is a step in the right direction toward pay equity with other air districts and will make it easier to negotiate future contracts."
- Leland Villalvazo
Supervising Air Quality Specialist





Photo above: Fresno Group
For more information

- Read this flyer:
 Contract Ratified 4-16-2009

- Go to the chapter web page