YCEA Local #1 Site Representative Meeting Quick Notes
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 5:15pm
Government Center, Conference Room 2
1) Update on County Budget Deficit
YCEA, Local 1 President Ryan McNally opened the meeting up at 5:15pm, with approximately 100 members in attendance. Executive Director Gary Stucky reported that the County Department Heads had different scenarios to work on with their budget. One scenario was with the 7% deferral and the other one was without the 7% deferral. Staff recommended that the County see how much money they have to cut with either scenario. The Union does not know when the layoffs will happen or if they will happen. The County works with a 30 day notice, but if management knows sooner we hope they share it with us ahead of time. Local government is different then State government in that the State can mandate furloughs. We have a contract with the County and we must agree to furloughs before this can happen. As of yet this has not been tested in the Courts, but the Courts did rule that the Governor did have the authority to furlough employees within the State.
2) Status of 7% Deferral
Staff reported that the YCEA membership voted 255 to defer the 7% transfer of CalPERS employee contribution and 118 against this deferral. Now we have to work out language on the MOU. The other units have now all agreed to do the 7% deferral. If the county reverses the 7% deferral or anything else in another group then we get the same thing. Some refer to this as a ‘me too’ clause or more appropriately a ‘favored nations agreement’. This ‘favored nations agreement’ would be immediate if other units received any money our membership would also. This would be an addendum to the MOU.
Staff reported that the Voluntary Furlough program has been in the MOU since 1992, but not active. We are suggesting that the membership extend the MOU for 1 year if we take the 7% deferral. The May 19 election is still out there. If the propositions don’t pass then the State will most likely take money from the local governments. It won’t be a good year to be at the bargaining table.
The YCEA Budget Deficit Committee and staff will meet with the County in the future to get further clarification of where the budget is at. The Board of Supervisors has already adopted a policy of ‘no out-of-the area travel, except those already approved’.
Staff stated that the 7% deferral will help the budget some. Your attendance at all Board of Supervisor’s meetings is important when YCEA Local #1 requests your attendance.
You are a taxpayer and the 7% deferral is for 1 year after that we want our membership to receive that 7%. If you look like your position might be cut due to budget constraints, then you may have 12 months to look for a new job. We’re also deferring the impact not just the 7%.
Cuts need to be made as far away from service as possible. There is no legal recourse to stop layoffs. The number of employees who show up at meetings show strength!
3) County Early Retirement Survey
Staff reported that the County sent out an Early Retirement Survey. The County has stated that they will not do a ‘Golden Handshake’ because it is too expensive, but they might be able to do an incentive for a dollar amount.
4) YCEA Membership Appreciation Day
Staff asked Personnel Director Martha Wilson if they would entertain the idea of having a joint membership/employee appreciation day with the costs shared by the Union due to the County’s financial situation currently. CAO Robert Bendorf would like to discuss this possibility in further detail, but at this point neither he nor Martha has stated that they are opposed to this. Further discussion on this will be done before we know something for certain.
5) Other Matters
Some of the membership wanted further information as to why the County could not offer the Golden Handshake. Staff explained that this was a huge cost item and that the County evaluated this option, but it wasn’t viable. The County is not obligated to make any options. One third of the work force is over the age of 50. Another member was unhappy that whenever we negotiate something for our members, management and elected officials get what we negotiated, another words they ride our coattails. Staff stated that they go from year to year and that you’re the muscle that can change things. Go to the Board and complain.
Health Saving Account was explained. CalPERS does not offer this option and we don’t recommend this either. It appears to only work when you are young and healthy. We will have another meeting in two months.