Tentative Agreement Ratified
Wage Increases, Pension Rollbacks, & New Benefits on the Way
We are pleased to announce that members of both the Big Unit and Trades Unit have voted to ratify the Tentative Agreement (TA) with the County of San Luis Obispo. This agreement reflects months of negotiations and member engagement, and it delivers meaningful economic gains without concessions to core rights or protections.
The agreement will now be placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda for November 4, 2025. Upon Board adoption, members can expect to see the first financial impacts reflected in the November 26 paycheck.
Year One Financial Impacts – What to Expect
The first year of the three-year agreement (effective July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028) includes immediate enhancements:
3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective the pay period including October 1, 2025
Equity Adjustments, applied to specific classifications identified as needing market adjustments
Pension Cost Relief – The 0.80% pension rate increase that employees absorbed in July 2025 will be reversed, restoring take-home pay. In addition, Tier 3 employees will see a 1% reduction to their pension contribution rate, increasing net earnings. Additionally, employees will have no pension contribution increases for the full three years of the agreement.
Wellness Reimbursement Benefit – A new $300 per year reimbursement program will be implemented, supporting employee wellness expenses such as fitness, health programs, or related qualifying costs
Increases to Uniform and Boot allowances – for applicable classifications, both uniform and boot allowances will each increase by $100/year.
These improvements will begin appearing on employees’ November 26 paycheck, including the retro pay for the pay period including October 1, 2025 and forward.
Effective January 1, 2026, the following increases to Cafeteria Contributions will also go into effect (this includes the baseline increase and the new cost-sharing model adjustments):
· Employee Only: $954/month
· Employee + 1: $1,399/month
· Employee + 2 or more: $1,727/month
Looking Ahead – Scheduled Improvements in Years Two and Three
The MOU also secures guaranteed future earnings growth for both bargaining units:
Effective July 1, 2026
A new Step 7 will be added to the salary schedule. Employees whose most recent evaluation is overall successful and who have been at step 6 for a minimum of 1 year on July 1, 2026, will be advanced to Step 7.
Employees not immediately eligible for the new step will receive a one-time payment of $3,600
Effective July 1, 2027
3% COLA will be implemented
These future gains ensure continued progression and protect members from wage stagnation, especially in an increasingly competitive labor market and an uncertain economy.
No Takeaways — Key Protections Preserved
Throughout negotiations, SLOCEA maintained firm opposition to concessions or takeaways. The final agreement reflects that commitment. Core contract rights remain fully intact, and several non-economic wins were secured, including:
New provisions covering supervisor training, telework, grievance rights for temporary employees, and the opportunity to provide feedback on the current hearing process and present ideas for improvements.
Joint Civil Service Labor-Management Committee commitments, ensuring member voice in work-place issues.
Next Steps for Members
November 4 – Board of Supervisors Meeting and Approval
November 26 – First paycheck showing wage and equity adjustments, plus pension rollback
We strongly encourage members to review their paystubs after the November 26 payroll. If any discrepancies appear, SLOCEA is ready to assist in verifying correct implementation.
Thank You to Our Negotiating Team and Member Community
This MOU is a direct result of unity, persistence, and smart pressure at the table. Your feedback through surveys, rallies and meetings, and ratification votes guided our priorities and strengthened our position.
We extend a sincere thank you to the SLOCEA Negotiating Team, whose preparation and resolve ensured that wage equity, pension relief, and economic stability remained at the forefront of every discussion. Together, we reached an agreement that provides security and ongoing protections for our members, and highlights the power of unionized employees in the workplace.
Emily Landis, Executive Director