Ventura County members voted overwhelmingly (85%) to approve the tentative agreement that was reached with the assistance of the State Mediation and Conciliation Service after nearly nine months of negotiations. Ventura County members also voted to continue the Tier II COLA with a closer vote of 60% voting to continue.
Ventura County's original proposal began with over $17 million in cuts from workers which would have had a devastating impact on household budgets and impacted the County's economic recovery. The County's final proposal contained a 3% shift for retirement contributions from the employer back to the worker which is the equivalent of $2.2 million in savings to the County's general fund.
Hundreds of SEIU 721 members participated during these negotiations by attending membership meetings, rallies at the Board of Supervisors meetings and collecting petitions. On Dec. 15 2009, the Board of Supervisors announced that all management and non-represented workers would take the same retirement shifts as those proposed to SEIU 721 with the plan that all County workers would be contributing 3% more towards their retirement.
"Throughout these negotiations, workers demanded that all County workers including management share in the sacrifice and for the first time management will start contributing to their retirement. We will continue to hold the County accountable to their promise of a shared sacrifice from all workers" said Perry Morefield, Ventura County Mental Health Associate and 2009/2010 Bargaining Chair.
Other contract highlights include:
• A countywide Labor/Management Committee that will give workers the opportunity to help streamline services and preserve services.
• A joint County/SEIU Labor Management Retirement Review Committee to look at responsible pension funding solutions for all taxpayers in Ventura County.
These two committees are critical so that Ventura County members won't have the same vulnerabilities in future negotiations. The contract will expire on Sept. 30, 2010.
"Very soon, Ventura County members will have the opportunity to choose their next bargaining
committee and prepare to begin another round of negotiations. Hopefully members will continue to stay involved as we stand up for public services," said Letty Alvarez, Ventura County Community Services Coordinator and 2009/2010 Bargaining Team member.