Pay Raises Approved For County Probation Officers, Social Workers

MARTINEZ, CA — The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors gave deputy probation officers, as well as social workers employed by the county, a pay raise Tuesday morning during their meeting in Martinez.

According to county documents, probation officers in the Deputy Sheriffs Association, Probation and Probation Supervisors units who work with adults will get a 5-percent increase to their base pay, retroactive to Sept. 1, and juvenile institution officers working with children will get a 4-percent increase. The agreement also stipulates identical increases to take effect in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Staff estimates a fiscal impact of $2.4 million this fiscal year, with roughly $3.5 million in fiscal year 2020-21 and roughly $3.1 million in fiscal year 2021-22.

A parallel increase was also negotiated for public safety positions in the probation department not represented by the Deputy Sheriffs Association, Probation and Probation Supervisors units, as well as elected and appointed department heads and the county administrator.

Each of the pay raises passed unanimously 4-0, with Supervisor John Gioia absent for the morning.

Social workers in the public defender's office, Employment and Human Services Department and Health Services Department also got a 3.44-percent pay increase. The matter was part of the consent calendar, meaning that it was not specifically debated by the board, but District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen drew attention to this item out of more than 160 others.

"We value what you do and we're very delighted to make that happen," Andersen said.

Roughly two dozen members of Service Employees International Union Local 1021 who were in attendance for the meeting broke into applause.

During a brief exchange during public comment, Supervisor Karen Mitchoff acknowledged that social workers in Contra Costa County have been earning below the regional median, and this increase was intended to bring Contra Costa's pay into line with what county employees could earn elsewhere.

"This really is an adjustment to keep our workers competitive with others throughout the Bay Area," Mitchoff said.

Union members called this a good first step, but next plan to work on their spiraling health care costs. Sandra Wall, a social worker who has been with the county for 21 years, said during that time her family's monthly health care costs have gone from $20 to $570.

— Bay City News Service