SLOCEA Contract Negotiations Update

As you are all aware, SLOCEA is in the midst of contract negotiations for successor agreements for the following County bargaining units (BU): Public Services BU 01, Supervisory BU 05, and Clerical BU 13, which make up the Big Unit, and Trades, Crafts and Services (BU 02). The contracts expired June 30, 2025, but the terms and conditions of the expired MOU will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached or the parties are at impasse.    

The SLOCEA Negotiating Team and the County Team have met for five negotiating sessions:

• April 21

• May 5

• May 19

• June 13

• June 23

So far, the parties have been bargaining over a long list of important non-economic matters. It is our hope that once both teams reach consensus on the non-economic portions of the agreement, the parties will make their economic proposals. We are hopeful this will happen at Session #6, scheduled for July 1.

Achieving SLOCEA’s membership priorities of combating inflation by obtaining meaningful compensation increases, addressing pension rate increases, and achieving relief for the high costs of healthcare coverage are just some of SLOCEA’s goals. This is especially important as the healthcare costs for 2026 are anticipated to rise by 14%.

In our June sessions, the County discussed their need for internal rebalancing to address the County’s 2025-26 budget deficits while also emphasizing the need for competitive wages and benefits. The County’s Chief Negotiator referred to the economic framework of tentative agreements for several County bargaining units that were on the June 17 Board of Supervisors (BOS) agenda and slated for consideration and approval. All contract were approved by the BOS.

These economically rich agreements reached with other unions included cost of living adjustments, restructuring 5% pay steps and/or an “add a step, drop a step” process, a healthcare increase cost-sharing model, holidays from pension increases and various other significant financial improvements.

As we continue negotiations, our focus remains on securing similarly well-rounded and equally financially generous agreements, that also recognize the unique needs of our members.

At the negotiating table, SLOCEA is represented by our General Counsel and Chief Negotiator(s): attorneys Dennis Hayes and Paige Chretien; SLOCEA’s Executive Director Emily Landis; Labor Representatives Theresa Schultz and Brooke Daphne; plus, ten SLOCEA members, six on the Big Unit Team and four on the Trades Team.  

The ten Big Unit and Trades Team members come from various County departments: Assessor’s Office, Public Health, Public Works, Parks, Sheriff’s Dept and Social Services. They take seriously their role and responsibility in fairly advocating for the represented employees in their corresponding bargaining units.

Public Services:  Kyle Whelan

                              Katya Goodman

Supervisory:        Nate Larsen

                              Tom Arnold

Clerical:               Norma Domingo

                              Kathleen Curtis-Ames

Trades:                 Ricardo Camacho

                              Jim Hutchinson

                              Mike Johnson

                              Kevin Sulitz

Theresa Schultz

Senior Labor Representative