2-Year Contract Would Allow Board to Re-Open Talks if Fiscal Emergency Is Declared
In our second negotiations session, county management made its proposal to our bargaining team. Their first proposal called for a two-year contract, rather than the traditional three years, and what officials termed “financial contingency” language. The proposal calls for no salary increases or other compensation increases and the new language would allow the county to open our contract at any time during the two-year period if the Board of Supervisors declared a fiscal emergency.
Technically the county’s proposal states: “The Board may declare a financial crisis, at any time during the agreement, if it determines that there is a significant reduction in anticipated on-going local revenues, significant reduction in state or federal revenues, a shift in increased costs, deferral/modification of state payments, or loss of other revenues or finding, which results in a substantial increase in expenditures to the County.”
Our First Bargaining Victory
One of our elected Bargaining Policy Committee chair people was not released to attend the bargaining session as other members are. Bargaining committee members made it clear to county management that we would not negotiate without the entire team present so that every member has a voice. After a delay at the July 2 session, Oscar Gonzalez, a custodian from LAC+USC Medical Center, was told he could be released and bargaining commenced.
Bringing Accountability to County Contracting
We proposed new contract language that calls on the county to end its practice of privatizing county work. Our proposal would also require the county to study whether contracting out saves the county money before implementing a new contract.
Upcoming Events
July 16: Our next bargaining session with the county.July 25: All member meeting on the status of bargaining, our plan and our next steps. Please hold the date, location to be announced.