County offers wage and benefit package already agreed to by the majority of the County’s bargaining units, including AFSCME 2700; AFSCME 512; Local 21; Teamsters 856; and Western Council of Engineers
In response to a pending strike by SEIU Local 1021 at several County facilities starting on September 30, Contra Costa County officials want to assure the public that County services will continue during the strike.
Contra Costa County is currently in contract negotiations with SEIU 1021, the union that represents approximately 1,050 employees in Contra Costa County. In spite of 25 bargaining sessions over the past six months between the County and SEIU 1021, the union has given notice to County officials that they plan to strike and picket at County facilities.
The Union’s last proposal contained a demand for wage increases totaling 17% over three years, and a substantial increase in the County’s share of health care costs.
The County’s last proposal included the following offers:
- Wage increases totaling 10% over three years, which has been the amount agreed to by the majority of the County’s bargaining units, including AFSCME 2700, AFSCME 512, Local 21, Teamsters 856 and the Western Council of Engineers. The 10% wage increase that is being offered to SEIU Local 1021 will cost the County almost $9 million over the three-year period.
- Health Insurance options that would reduce costs for employees.
- For the calendar year 2016, the County is picking up 100% of the health care premium increase, and will share equally (50/50) of any increases in 2017. Moreover, should employees next year, in 2017, take advantage of some of the plans that actually cost less than they did in 2016, the County’s share of the premium will not go down, resulting in enrolled members receiving 100% of any savings achieved. The cost of picking up 100% of the premium increase for 2016 and paying 50% of the increase in 2017 will cost the County more than $11 million for all the bargaining units.
- The County is committed to providing a safe work environment for all of our employees and clients, and has provided several proposals designed to address safety concerns expressed by SEIU Local 1021.
“The County is disappointed that the Union would take this action. We remain hopeful that an agreement on a successor Memorandum of Understanding can be reached in the near future,” said David Twa, Contra Costa County Administrator. “In the meantime, we want to assure the public that County services will continue.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between the County and SEIU Local 1021 expired on June 30, 2016. Negotiations between the County and SEIU 1021 started on March 22, 2016. Most of the remaining issues are related to salaries and health insurance costs. The Union represents primarily employees in the Employment and Human Services Department.
