The union representing more than 400 Santa Barbara County employees vowed to “take action” after county supervisors recently voted to impose wage reductions and other cuts on union members.
The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Dec. 13 to impose a new contract—with only 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf dissenting—saying the cuts were necessary to reduce the county’s $15 million budget shortfall.
The terms implemented by the county include a 3.5 percent wage reduction, a new retirement tier for future employees, ending the medical program for retirees, requiring employees to pay up to one-half of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a freeze on merit-based raises, and other adjustments related to furlough, vacation, and sick time.
The changes are expected to save the county about $1 million this fiscal year and more than $1.8 million in 2012-13.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 spokesman Jesse Luna said in response to the vote, the union—which represents social workers and other employees in county departments such as public health and probation—is planning a series of actions in the coming weeks, though he wouldn’t elaborate on what those actions might be.
“Basically it’s about holding the board accountable for their actions on that horrible decision to impose those terms and conditions,” Luna said.
At the board meeting, more than a dozen union members implored supervisors to hold off on the cuts and return to the bargaining table, with some describing being on the verge of losing their homes and having to find second or third jobs.
The county and union representatives have tried to negotiate a new bargaining agreement since April. The current contract with the union expired in October 2010 and was extended to June by the board in March. After the county declared the talks at an impasse, SEIU Local 721 members overwhelmingly voted down the county’s final offer in November.
This article appears in Dec 29, 2011 – Jan 5, 2012.