Accountability is critical for Ventura’s negotiations. The average Ventura County worker could lose $200-300 each month with the cuts that the County is proposing and the County is asking members to “trust them”. The bargaining team is asking two key questions to help determine the validity of County officials’ claims and their proposal to County employees.
- Is the deficit real?
- Are the cuts shared-fairly by all employees- if the deficit is real?
The bargaining team is still waiting for answers. However, many of SEIU’s proposals wouldn’t cost the County a dime but would make a big difference in the lives of workers and help streamline services but the County has rejected them. Respect and trust must go both ways.
Below are some frequently asked questions and an overview of the County and SEIU’s proposals.
Q. What is our proposal and when does our contract expire?
A. Our contract expires on Sept. 30, 2009. We have focused our proposals on improving the working conditions for employees and decreasing the inconsistencies throughout the County and its numerous HR departments. In light of these economic times, we have not made proposal changes to sick, vacation, bereavement and tuition reimbursement.
SEIU Proposal:
Creation of a county-wide Labor-Management Committee
Creation of a committee focused on health and safety that would meet regularly in certain departments
Strengthen protections for workers during layoffs
Protection when involuntarily transferred
Strengthen worker rights, protections for stewards and stronger grievance and arbitration language
Sick leave donation included in the MOA
A system for Bilingual testing, similar to Sheriff’s Dept
Reduce probation for professionals to six months
A union bulletin Board on the Intranet
Q. What is the County proposing?
A. The County is proposing cuts to reduce a “potential deficit of $9-14 million.” Some of the cuts the County is proposing are part of normal negotiations and some of the cuts are not but have been brought to these negotiations.
Ventura County’s proposed cuts:
Reduce the Retirement pick up from 4% to 2%
Cease the 401 K match
Employees will pay increases in health insurance costs, not the County. Plans are increasing 4-24 percent.
Delay all merit increases for one year
Shut down county services for five days in 2010
Reduce base salary by 3% for any worker earning over $100,000
Q. Why is the County proposing these cuts?
A. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the CFO and the CEO have determined that there will be a shortfall of $9-14 million. They attribute the deficit to retirement funding deficiencies in the years 2010-2011. However, the County stated that they will not have the data to substantiate this until March of 2010.
Q. Does SEIU think the $9 million is accurate?
A. Neither the County nor SEIU researchers will know the 2010-11 budget until early 2010. However, SEIU 721 has offered to work with the County to resolve the problems with the Retirement Accounts.
Q. Is the County asking for cuts from other workers?
A. The County proposed cuts to SEIU members first because we are in contract negotiations. SEIU is the largest union, but SEIU members are the lowest paid and have the smallest benefit package of all County workers. We have been told that Managers will be taking similar cuts but not until January and the County says they are reaching out to the other bargaining units about cuts. We have requested information on all proposed cuts but do not have details at this time.
Q. What is a shutdown/furlough?
A. A shut down is when the employer plans to shut its doors for business during a period of time. It’s often called a furlough because it is time off without pay.
Q. Can the County impose these cuts?
A. No. The Union has made it clear that we believe all of these proposals are subject to bargaining. This gives us the right to see all of the County’s documentation supporting their position and more importantly whether or not we take the cuts.
Q. What else can Ventura members do at this time?
A. SEIU members are forming a committee to help identify cost saving efficiencies so the county runs more effectively. Identifying alternatives is critical to avoiding cuts to critical services. To get involved email your ideas to the Cost Savings Workgroup care of: jeannette.sanchez@seiu721.org or fax them to (805) 644-8291.
Stay Active and Involved:
Contract Action Team Meeting (Camarillo Library 4101 Las Posas Rd) 5:30 p.m., Sept. 9
Board of Supervisors Rally (Hall of Administration) 7:45 a.m., Sept. 15
Membership Meeting (UFCW/Meeting Room A 816 Camarillo Springs Rd, Camarillo) 5:30 pm Sept. 24