It's Unanimous: Sonoma County Board Approves 3 Union Contracts

SANTA ROSA - The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved contracts with three labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 that represents more than 2,000 employees.

The memorandum of understanding between the county and SEIU provides a 3 percent cost of living wage increase as of this month and another 3 percent raise on March 14, 2017.

The county also will contribute toward the SEIU employees' monthly medical plan premiums.

In 2016, the contribution is $557 for an employee, $1,113 for an employee and one family member and $1,575 for an employee and two or more family members.

In 2017, the contributions are $580, $1,158 and $1,638, respectively.

The agreement also stipulates SEIU employees will earn at least $15 an hour, and full-time SEIU employees as of March 14 will receive a one-time lump sum of $620 that will not be considered in wage or pension benefit categories.

SEIU Local 1021 represents 250 county job classifications but its workers also represent all workers in Sonoma County who are struggling with rising housing and health care costs, union spokesman Omar Medina said.

The new contract negotiating process took 260 days and 99 percent of the union members ratified the agreement, Medina said.

Also on Patch: Sonoma County Workers Ratify Union Contract

SEIU Local 1021 members staged a three-day strike in November and there were several loud, whistle-blowing rallies at the County Administration Center, including some during Board of Supervisors meetings.

Also on Patch: Workers To Protest 'State Of Sonoma County' Wednesday Morning

The board also approved contract agreements with the 220 deputies and sergeants in the Deputy Sheriff's Association, and 13 lieutenants, captains and the assistant sheriff positions in the Deputy Sheriff's Law Enforcement Management Unit.

Those agreements also contain provisions similar to the SEIU pact, including the two 3 percent annual raises and the county's increased monthly medical premium payments.

SEIU members told the board the negotiation process was difficult, could have ended sooner and that their wages and compensation have been stagnant for 12 years. They said they now feel valued as employees and can afford health care for their families.

Both the SEIU members and the Board of Supervisors said neither side got everything they wanted in the agreement. "I am proud of what we have today, but everybody is not getting what they wanted," board chair Efren Carrillo said.

Supervisor Susan Gorin said she is pleased the board found money for health care premium contributions.

She said the agreement is affordable and sustainable, but she noted the sheriff's office has lost employees to other jurisdictions that offer higher pay.

Supervisor Shirlee Zane said the county is not responsible for the country's broken health care system or deteriorating infrastructure.

"But we are responsible to do better," Zane said.

-Bay City News