Sonoma County 2010 Bargaining

On Wednesday, May 19, the County and the Union presented proposals on the issues we both wanted to deal with in these negotiations.  Prior to developing our proposals the Union reviewed the members’ surveys and discussed a number of issues which had occurred during and after the last negotiations.  We also reviewed the financial information which the County had presented us and the team discussed how we should proceed in light of the current financial deficit.  The team took into account all of these issues in the development of our proposals.  We decided to propose no salary change proposal in terms of cost of living or external equity proposals.  We did present some financial proposals in the form of an increase in the cash allowance (which helps pay the cost of medical premiums) and some increase for long term employees in vacation accumulation.  Additionally we addressed a number of other contract language issues which we felt we could address during these negotiations.  We will prepare a summary of our proposals for the membership meeting on Thursday.
 
The County presented a number of proposals which we had previously seen.  The proposals included 96 hours of unpaid furlough time (equal to approximately 5% decrease in salary), continuation of suspension of the educational allowance and the suspension of payout of vacation and comp time accumulation and extension of the voluntary furlough.  In addition, the County proposed an additional 10% across the board decrease in salary.  The County team provided a set of calculations which indicated that the 10% reduction proposal was the SEIU portion of what was necessary to balance the general fund budget.  How the reductions impact the non-general fund positions and budgets is yet to be presented.  We also asked how this 10% reduction was related to the proposed layoffs and the County team was unable to answer that question.  We expect to get that information at our meeting this Wednesday, May 26th.
 
We are clearly faced with a number of serious issues.  We have scheduled a general membership meeting for this Thursday so that we can talk to all of you, answer your questions and get your input.  It is important that you try to attend the meeting so that the team can get your direction and know how to proceed in the coming weeks.   We need to decide our approach and support each other.  The County needs to hear us speak as a united group and, in order to do that, the team needs to know how you want us to proceed.  Please attend the meeting or call the team with your thoughts.
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Contract Action TEAM MEETING NOTES 5-20-10
The main focus of the meeting was getting members to come to the General Membership meeting next week.  Our negotiating team wants the members input on what is going on at the bargaining table.  Here are some of the highlights that the County is proposing:
 
    •    A mandatory time off of 96 hours
    •    Suspension of staff development benefit and wellness benefit
    •    Suspend cash out of vacation and comp time (this does not apply to people that are retiring)
    •    Extra Help Buy Back Time
    •    Supervisory Compaction

AND, this just in from the most current proposal by the County…A 10% REDUCTION IN PAY!!!
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General Membership Meeting

Thurs, May 27th at 5:30pm

Steele Lane Center – 415 Steele Lane

Bring co-workers and come to your General Membership!

AGENDA

Negotiations Update

MTO & Furlough Proposals

Layoff Updates

Political Action

A MUST ATTEND MEETING…BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR FUTURE!