Questions & Answers about 2009 LA County Contract Negotiations

What is LA County proposing in contract negotiations? How would their proposals affect you? How will the County’s health care proposal impact your paycheck? Read more to get the answers you need.
Q. What is the County proposing in contract negotiations?
A. The County is proposing NO RAISES for the next two years. And, it’s proposing to freeze contributions to all health plans – both Options and Choices – at current levels for the next two years.
Q. How would this affect me?
A. A two year freeze would result in a significant shift of health care costs to workers and the burden is great. Most Local 721 members with family coverage would see their paychecks reduced by more than $100 per month in 2010 and more than $200 per month by 2011 (see chart on reverse.)

Q. Can the County afford to offer more?
A. YES. We all know that the economy is bad and California’s financial condition is even worse than other parts of the country. This is affecting all public agencies. But, LA County’s budget is in better shape than most California counties, and it still has significant funds in reserve. The County does NOT have to shift health benefit costs onto workers.

Q. What about the County’s “financial crisis” proposal? What is that all about?
A. The County is proposing to include in our contract a provision that would empower the Board of Supervisors to declare a financial emergency unilaterally at any time during the term of the agreement. This would allow the County to reopen our contracts and within 15 days officials could declare impasse in bargaining in order to quickly impose further economic takeaways.
Q. Wouldn’t the County’s “financial crisis” proposal remove all economic security from our contract?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the SEIU 721 bargaining team’s response to these proposals?
A. Your elected bargaining committees are determined to:
Safeguard paychecks against the County’s efforts to shift the skyrocketing health care premium costs onto workers.
Win contracts that provide economic SECURITY with no “Financial Crisis” takeaways.
Build A Better LA County by winning improvements on the job that help workers deliver quality services.
Q. What can I do to help?
A. Join us on Sept. 29 for a RALLY at the Board of Supervisors meeting. Help us send a strong message! Click here for more details and to RSVP for the rally. If you’re coming, make sure to request half a day off!
County’s Proposal Shifts Health Care Costs to Workers:
Paycheck Impact: How will the shift affect you?
Click here if you’re in bargaining unit 711, 723 or 777.
Click here for all other LA County workers