The Importance of Being Informed During Negotiations

As we reported last month, SLOCEA is in contract negotiations with the County for successor agreements as the contracts for the County bargaining units that SLOCEA represents expire on June 30, 2025. Those bargaining units include: Trades Crafts and Services (Trades), bargaining unit 02 and three units that make up the “Big Unit”: Public Services, Supervisory, and Clerical, respectively bargaining units 01, 05 and 13.

So far, we have participated in three negotiations sessions: April 21, May 5 and May 19, with session #4 scheduled for June 13. To date, SLOCEA and the County have only made non-economic proposals.  

SLOCEA’s Member Portal

SLOCEA’s goal is to post a negotiation update on the member portal within 24 hours of the conclusion of the bargaining session. The member portal is the best way for you to stay abreast, informed and educated on what the parties are proposing at the negotiating table and where we are in the collective bargaining process.

To access the portal go to SLOCEA.org and click on the gold colored “Member Portal” icon on the home page. If you have difficulty accessing the portal contact the SLOCEA office at info@slocea.org or call 805-543-2021. SLOCEA staff can very easily assist you in obtaining portal access.

We can’t stress enough how important it is that we have a well-informed membership throughout the negotiation process. To educate our members to fully understand the content of portal postings, the following are contract negotiation terms commonly used during the collective bargaining cycle.

Common Negotiation Terms

Bargaining Unit

• A group of employee classifications (job descriptions) that share a community of interest for labor relations matters and is represented by a union in negotiations and other labor relations matters.

Collective Bargaining

• The process where SLOCEA and the County negotiate terms and conditions of employment (wages, benefits, working conditions, etc.)

Negotiating Table

• A term used to describe the setting—both literal and symbolic—where SLOCEA representatives and the County’s representatives come together to meet, discuss and bargain over employment terms. Being “at the negotiating table” means we are actively participating in contract negotiations.

Scope of Bargaining

• The range of topics that must or may be discussed during bargaining (e.g., wages, hours, and working conditions).

Meet and Confer in Good Faith

• The mutual obligation of the County and SLOCEA to engage fully, communicate openly, and work together in good faith to reach a fair and honest agreement. This means approaching bargaining with an open mind, following procedures that will enhance the prospects of settlement, being willing to meet as often as necessary, and the County providing SLOCEA with the information it needs to bargain meaningfully.

Contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

• The terms are used interchangeably to refer to a formal labor agreement between SLOCEA and the County that defines the terms agreed upon during negotiations for a specific period that covers wages, benefits, and other conditions of employment for all bargaining unit employees covered by the MOU.

Tabled

• Refers to the official act of introducing a proposal or item for consideration during bargaining. It signifies that a party has placed a proposal before the negotiating table for review, discussion, and potential action by both sides.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

• A wage increase that is granted across-the-board to all employees in the bargaining unit.

Successor Agreement

• A new labor contract that replaces an expiring one, continuing or updating the terms and conditions of employment between SLOCEA represented bargaining units and the County.

Tentative Agreement (TA)

• An individual proposal that has been agreed upon and signed by both sides. This term is also used when the entire successor MOU has been agreed upon by the parties.

Ratification

• A vote taken by SLOCEA members to accept or reject the tentative agreement (TA) that was negotiated and reached by SLOCEA representatives and the County. If the vote is in favor of accepting the TA, the item is then placed on the Board of Supervisors agenda for final approval.

Conclusion

We are striving for a well-informed membership throughout the negotiation process and through diligent and good-faith negotiations, our goal is to ensure that the employees we represent are fairly compensated. The SLOCEA Negotiating Team remains steadfast in its commitment to securing meaningful improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions for all SLOCEA represented employees.

Current Negotiating Teams

The following individuals have represented their corresponding parties at the bargaining table in sessions #1-3

SLOCEA’S NEGOTIATING TEAM

• Chief Negotiator and General Counsel: Dennis Hayes

• General Counsel: Paige Chretien

• Executive Director: Emily Landis

• Senior Labor Representative: Theresa Schultz

• Labor Representative II: Brooke Daphne

Big Unit Team:

• President: Nate Larsen, Social Services

• Vice President Norma Domingo, Public Health

• Public Services: Katya Goodman, Assessor

• Public Services: Kyle Whelan, Public Works

• Supervisory: Tom Arnold, Social Services

• Clerical: Kathleen Curtis-Ames, Sheriff’s Office

Trades Team:

• Ricardo Camacho, Public Works

• Jim Hutchinson, Public Works

• Mike Johnson, Public Works

• Kevin Sulitz, Parks

COUNTY’S NEGOTIATING TEAM

• Chief Negotiator and Outside Counsel: Jeff Sloan

• Human Resources (HR) Deputy Director for Labor: Mark Zeltmann

• HR Principal Analyst for Labor: Michael Hobbs

• HR Labor Relations Analyst: Lindsey Cora

• HR Labor Relations Analyst: Briana Martenies

• HR Executive Assistant: Shaley Salsbury

Theresa Schultz

Senior Labor Representative