THE ‘POWER OF PURPLE’ HELPS WIN GREAT DEAL FOR S.B. PROFESSIONALS

After a year-long battle with dug-in county management, San Bernardino County professionals last month won a great new three-year deal with raises, restorations and other key improvements that will begin the process of restoring vital county services hobbled by attrition and short-staffing.

Here’s how the S.B. Professionals’ year-long struggle paid off:

• 7% salary increases for all bargaining unit members on the following schedule:

Pay Increase    Increase Date
2%                      July 9, 2016
2%                      July 22, 2017
3%                      July 22, 2018

• 7% retirement pickup, effective July 9, 2016
• 2% longevity pay for members with 15 years of service, effective

December 2016
• Shift differential increases:
— Evening: $1 increased to $1.20
— Nighttime: $1.30 increased to $1.70
• Increases in medical subsidies
• Vacation cash out of 60 hours if any employee uses 80 in previous year
• $1,000 retention bonus in 2019 for SSPs, Psychiatrists and other high attrition classes
• $1,000 professional allowance in year 2 for all members of the unit
• Stronger grievance procedures

But even more important to the S.B. Professionals are the painstakingly negotiated, class-specific equity adjustments and reclassifications in the 153-page agreement that will provide additional pay increases for hundreds of workers, from physicians and therapists, o laboratory technicians and social services practitioners.

The S.B. Professionals’ victory is a textbook example of how member leadership can use the “Power of Purple” — our union’s deep resources; our experienced negotiators; our skilled team of attorneys, researchers, and communications experts; and our relationships with community, clergy, and political leaders — to win game-changing wins at the bargaining table.

Read the whole agreement at:
www.seiu721.org/SBProfessional

Bob Schoonover, President