Tuesday, Feb 26, 2019
 by 
Christa Bigue
  • news

    The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors today approved a new three-year agreement with 10 of 11 representation units of employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829.

    The new compensation package for employees in these 10 units include pay increases for cost of living adjustments for all AFSCME represented employees, along with increased longevity and equity adjustments for classifications behind market or difficult to fill.

    “I am pleased that the County and AFSCME have reached a meaningful and mutually beneficial agreement that lets us move forward together,” said Board President Carole Groom. “Our employees are the foundation of the County’s work and I’m proud we share the same commitment to public service.”

    The 10 representation units of AFSCME represent approximately 800 employees in varied classifications across departments. Significant changes for employees in the representation units that ratified the agreement include:

    • Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA): 4 percent effective Feb. 24, 2019, 2 percent effective Oct. 6, 2019 and 3 percent effective Oct. 4, 2020.;
    • Equity increases of 1 percent effective Feb. 24, 2019 and 2 percent effective Oct. 6, 2019;
    • Longevity pay: 1 percent after the equivalent of five years of service and increased longevity pay of 1 percent at 10 and 20 years of service, and 2 percent at 25 years;
    • Specified classifications receive additional equity increase and other specialty pays based on market conditions.

    The County and union had been negotiating since July 2018 and the most recent contract expired Oct. 6, 2018. The new MOU will remain in place until Oct. 2, 2021.

    The new salaries and other changes will cost the County approximately $27.8 million over its three-year term.

    County Manager Mike Callagy praised the employees for replacing a planned two-day labor strike earlier this month with a vote to ratify the tentative agreement.

    “Their decision showed that we all have the same goal — compensating our employees in a meaningful but fiscally sound way so that we can continue focusing on providing service to our residents and the community,” Callagy said.

    The County remains hopeful an agreement can be reached with the Human Services Unit which did not ratify the agreement. AFSCME’s representative directed the County to adopt the agreement with the other 10.

    If a majority of Human Services Unit members vote to strike, the County intends to maintain essential services and will implement contingency plans to minimize service disruptions.

    The complete Board of Supervisors agenda packet and meeting video, when posted, are available at: https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.