News

Bargaining Update: Members Vote NO; Reject County’s LBFO

SEIU_Riv_Co_LBFO_MV_crystal_500p.jpgOn Monday, Nov. 21, 2011,  SEIU 721 Riverside County members overwhelmingly (92%) rejected the County’s Last, Best, and Final Offer (LBFO). By voting NO
, members authorized their bargaining team to demand the county resume negotiations through fact finding and mediation, and to call for escalating job actions, up to and including strikes, as necessary.
SEIU_Riv_Co_LBFO_MV_111211_wendy_300p.jpg“Our members have said they are willing to accept furloughs, a two-tiered pension system and to contribute into their own retirement. This vote makes it clear, though, they are not willing to sacrifice fairness or equal treatment. The fact is the current SEIU 721 proposal would provide more than $20 million in savings over the next two years, which exceeds the parameters set by the county, and yet it is still not enough. Members are angry by the county’s lack of leadership and failure to negotiate with us in good faith. Enough is Enough.”
– Wendy Thomas, SEIU 721 Chief Negotiator, 911 Communications Supervisor
NEXT STEPS – TAKE ACTION
• Demand County Resume Negotiations
• Take Action if County Imposes Terms and Conditions
• Initiate Escalating Work Actions
• Hold Board of Supervisors Accountable
• Win a Fair Contract!
Stay Informed
Receive regular updates from your bargaining team by providing your current contact information today. Don’t forget to use your personal email address.
You can email your questions or comments directly to the SEIU 721 Riverside County bargaining team at rivcoseiu@gmail.com.
Categories: Bargaining Updates | Inland Area
Tags: | | | | | | | |

0 responses to “Bargaining Update: Members Vote NO; Reject County’s LBFO”

  1. We have proved our willingness to take cuts and work under extraordinary conditions with punishing harassment in some cases. Will the Board hear us now and realize how important it is to treat us fairly! Bring a team to the negotiating table that is really interested in fair and reasonable negotiation.

  3. While I’m glad that an overwhelming majority have voted against the County’s LBFO (mainly because it’s a terrible proposal), I still have my concerns.

    1. Nothing has been said about layoffs. I’ve heard that they are a possibility under both the County’s and the Union’s proposals. Why won’t anybody speak honestly about it?
    2. Why a three-year contract? SERIOUSLY, This was one of the main reasons I voted “No”, but I really hope SEIU doesn’t take that as an endorsement of their three-year contract. One year at a time until the economy gets better.
    3. What about those who genuinely cannot afford the time off to engage in job actions? I’m still paying off debt incurred during the last furloughs. 11.5% of my income was a hard pill to swallow.

  5. Suggest you have banners put up in populated areas of the county stating announcing what the BOS is trying to do….they don’t like that other people out of the area are being made aware of goings on. Call outside newspapers. Live where you work is a joke. The Board members, i.e. Tavaglione taking cash bribes from company’s wanting to do business here…they are the ones benefiting

  6. I DON’T AGREE TO PAY BACK INTO MY RETIREMENT . I ALREADY COMPLETED MY COMMITMENT. I BELIEVE THERE IS ENOUGH MEMBERS THAT ARE STILL UNDER 5 YEARS AND ARE PAYING INTO OUR RETIREMENT WHEN I CAME TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY I MADE A COMMITTMENT AND I HAVE FULFILLED AND THE COUNTY SHOULD NOT BREAK A PREVIOUS AGREEMENT.THIS IS SO WRONG .

  7. The County is demanding Retirement Reform and imposing that we all pay 8% .
    With that said, let’s talk about Retirement Reform.

    We are very aware that all HR employees receive Management Benefits even though they are not Managers! In addition to the regular PERS, all HR employees receive a $50 monthly contribution into a separate 401a. As of a matter of fact, Management only gets $25 towards their 401a.

    If we need Retirement Reform, let’s Reform the HR department as well.

    To justify giving themselves better benefits, they call themselves “Confidential”. Well, let me tell you, when it comes to government work, we are all “confidential” and held accountable.

    Let’s reform HR Retirement Benefits. If they are not Managers, they should not get Management benefits!

    Just by NOT giving Management Benefits (401a) to regular HR employees who are not Management, the County can save $$$$ and give fair treatment.

  8. The BOS needs to acknowledge the fact employees are ALREADY PAYING INTO THEIR PERS accounts with salary savings from raises given up years ago and start being more frugal when it comes to building new county buildings. Why did the new DA building have to be done in marble and glass ? 129 million for ONE building ? Seriously ? 42 million for the CAC annex, 32 million for the new Animal Control (Riv office) and 15 million (San Jac office). I look at these offices and cannot see how the county is hurting for money, not with BILLIONS in assets and over MILLIONS in rainy day funds.
    We employees have been furloughed, not given COLAs and cost of everything goes up. Many like me are sick and tired of getting all the cuts and short end of the stick while the BOS looks down their noses at us. If they were serious about pension reform, they would look at where the problem really is. If they were serious about cutting costs, they would ask the people who know where the cuts should be (the employees). Why spend tens of thousands on consultants. Why have a cost cutting commission if they won’t listen to the
    recommendations ?