The County of Santa Clara and the Service Employees
International Union (SEIU) Local 715, which represents about half
of the 16,c00 County workers, have reached an agreement to defer a
portion of a scheduled wage increase to avoid layoffs and reduce
cuts in County services.
The County of Santa Clara and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 715, which represents about half of the 16,c00 County workers, have reached an agreement to defer a portion of a scheduled wage increase to avoid layoffs and reduce cuts in County services.
Under the agreement, SEIU Local 715 members will receive a 1 percent wage increase on June 23. The remaining 2.5 percent of the previously negotiated increase will be deferred until Nov. 10. In exchange, through Nov. 9, there will be no layoffs, demotions or reductions to part-time status for workers represented by SEIU Local 715.
Transfers resulting from budget reductions will proceed. Members of the union have ratified the agreement.
“This agreement is important,” said Pete Kutras, acting county executive. “Given the magnitude of the county’s anticipated $156 million deficit, without these changes, layoffs would have been inevitable.”
The postponement of the 2.5 percent wage increase to November will save the county an estimated $5.1 million. A portion of these savings will be carried forward to reduce the effect of additional layoffs of Local 715 positions expected this fall, once the county knows the full impact of the state’s budget deficit.
As a way to stem the loss of SEIU Local 715 represented jobs, the county also has agreed to forego proposing new outside contracts that would replace union workers, during the July -November period.
“This was a tough decision for county workers, but in the end most members felt this was the right thing to do to protect jobs and the services we provide,” said Brian O’Neill, SEIU Local 715 chapter chair. “We’ll be expecting to work hard together with the county to avoid job losses when more state cuts come in the fall.”
Both sides have agreed to begin discussions in September to examine a number of options to soften the effect of future budget cuts. The parties will revisit the deferral of the 2.5 percent wage increase.
The county and SEIU Local 715 also will explore the possibility of offering early retirement incentives, expansion of the existing voluntary reduced work hours and the possible extension of the current labor agreement.
“This milestone agreement demonstrates that members of SEIU Local 715 are taking the long view,” said Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors. “As difficult as the decision may have been on a personal level to forego an expected wage increase, the majority voted to save jobs and preserve direct services to our community. There are still tough times ahead, but we will have to continue to work together to find the solutions that best serve our community.”
