A Year of Transition and Progress at SLOCEA
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on the path we’ve traveled together this year. For our members, for our staff, and for the Association as a whole, this has been a year marked by major change, hard-earned wins, and continued dedication to the mission that has guided SLOCEA for nearly eighty years: improving the lives of public employees in San Luis Obispo County.
Collective Bargaining: Strong Agreements in an Unpredictable Time
This year’s bargaining cycle brought some of the most complex negotiations we have seen in recent memory. Members of both the Big Unit and the Trades Unit ratified new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) that secure wage increases, pension cost protections, and critical investments in health care contributions at a time when affordability challenges are hitting households across our country. These agreements were negotiated during a financial year marked by volatility: rising living costs and statewide budget uncertainty that created anxiety across multiple public sectors, on top of significant budget shortfalls at the county level. These conditions have real impacts on our members and the communities you serve. The long-term economic picture continues to shift, and many public agencies are navigating tighter margins and less predictability than they have had in the past.
Against that backdrop, the MOUs secured this year provide stability and meaningful financial improvements for over 1,500 County employees. While not every bargaining goal was reached, the overall agreement provides protection for our members facing uncertain future economic conditions. Member participation in surveys, bargaining meetings, worksite conversations, and ultimately the ratification process directly shaped these outcomes. Your involvement strengthened our position at the table and kept our priorities focused where they needed to be.
Growth and Change Within Our Organization
Internally, 2025 has been a year of important transitions as well. Our team welcomed new staff, settled into new roles, and continued building a team designed to serve members more effectively. SLOCEA’s operations have grown significantly over the last decade, and our staffing model continues to evolve with it. This year we invested in training, updated internal processes, and improved procedures across every department—from member representation to communications, accounting, and administration.
One of the most visible changes is our recent office move. After 20 years at our previous location, SLOCEA has relocated to a larger, more functional space right next door at 605 Santa Rosa Street. The move is designed to improve member access, provide additional meeting spaces, including a permanent home for our Board of Directors, and support the growing needs of both staff and the Association. While the transition is close in distance, it represents a major step forward in creating a more efficient, welcoming, member-centered office environment. We look forward to opening the doors and welcoming you into the new space in early 2026 at our Open House!
Honoring the Career and Legacy of Theresa Schultz
The end of this year also marks a bittersweet milestone for SLOCEA. After more than fourteen years of service with our organization, Senior Labor Representative Theresa Schultz has retired as of the end of November.
Theresa’s impact on SLOCEA is immeasurable. She has led our Steward Committee for 14 years and has been the backbone of member representation across the county. Many of our current stewards and board leaders first stepped into union service because Theresa personally encouraged, trained, or mentored them. She also carried an enormous workload with unwavering energy, conducting countless site visits across departments, often entirely on her own, and showing up wherever members needed her most.
Her leadership and institutional knowledge were pivotal during major moments in our history, including the Association’s first labor strike in 2018. Theresa’s dedication, her calm under pressure, and her commitment to every member she served have shaped this organization in lasting ways. As she begins her well-earned retirement, we extend our gratitude and appreciation for the legacy she leaves behind.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While 2025 brought its share of challenges, it also underscored the strength and resilience of our members and our union. Public employees continue to carry out the essential work that keeps San Luis Obispo County running—often without fanfare and under difficult circumstances. Your professionalism, compassion, and dedication remain the foundation of everything SLOCEA advocates for.
In 2026, we will continue modernizing our operations, expanding member engagement, strengthening our labor representation team, and preparing strategically for future bargaining cycles. We are committed to transparency, accessibility, and serving you with integrity and focus.
Thank you for your involvement, your trust, and the work you do every day for our community. As we close out the year, we look forward to what we can build together in the year ahead.
In solidarity,
Emily Landis
SLOCEA Executive Director