Fresno County Resource Central

After four months of rigorous negotiations that included countless workplace actions, informational pickets, exclusive media stories, and the participation of hundreds of Fresno County members – veteran and new – your bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement (TA) on a new 2-year successor contract late Thursday evening.

We strongly believe this agreement sets a pathway that’ll begin to bridge the gap in addressing the short-staffing challenges with commitment from the County to work collaboratively on proven solutions to improve work-life balance and protect and elevate safety-net services. 

At the Start of Negotiations

• • Wages – The county expressed concern with economic forecasts and declined commitments to general wage increases
  • Retirement – The county rejected all proposals associated with increases to employer contributions

• Holidays – The county expressed no interest in the addition of new paid holidays 

• Additional Wage Steps – The County repeatedly proposed status-quo

Because of our collective efforts over the last six months, including a major mobilization of our members across worksites, a first-of-its-kind community town hall, and pressure from all angles, we are pleased with the wins we’ve gained as part of this new TA. Here are some of the highlights of what we won:

What We Won

• Wages – 8% across-the-board general wage increase over two years:

• 5% in year 1 – Jan. 24

• • • 3% in year 2 – Jan. 25

• New Employee Holiday – Juneteenth (June 19th) as a paid county holiday.

• 6th Wage Step – The addition of a new wage step for all employees who have maxed out.

• Retirement – Up to $50 per pay period max match contribution to Deferred Comp or 457B plan

• Differential Pay/Benefits – Secured additional differential pay and benefits for hundreds of workers. 

And more! (details to come)

What Happens Next? 

Over the next few weeks, we are planning multiple informational meetings at worksites and virtually to share more details about the agreement and answer any questions our members may have. 

In preparation for the ratification vote, we encourage you to ensure you are signed up for union notifications here: https://www.seiu521.org/signup. Also, only union members will be eligible to cast a vote during the ratification period. Sign up to be a member here: https://www.seiu521.org/membership. Details regarding the vote schedule and method of voting will be announced soon.

Your bargaining committee is proud of the collective efforts of members like you over the last year. We truly could only have accomplished this strong deal with your contributions. We also acknowledge the challenges of obtaining every single individual priority. Still, we are confident this deal strengthens our county chapter and will enable us to continue toward systemic improvements to make Fresno County the best place to live, work, and raise our families. 

In unity,

Your SEIU 521 Fresno County Bargaining Committee

As your union bargaining team, we continue to represent our collective voices at the negotiations table, and it’s important your coworkers and read on to learn what it will take to win a strong contract.

Bargaining Update – AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE

County leadership did share some positive responses to some of our proposals at the negotiation table and have committed to continue discussing:

• A potential sixth step addition to wage scale
• Longevity/ retention pay
• Adult Protective Services Assignment Differential Pay
• Additional paid-time off holiday
• Bargaining Unit 4 lead pay and bilingual pay

The County rejected these and many other proposals, and we need your help to demonstrate that we deserve better working conditions, NOW!

• Proposal on mandatory breaks for our workers
• Proposal on decent Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) to reflect the the impacts of the cost of living and working in the Valley
• Proposal for additional Security and Metal Detectors at West Fresno Regional Center
• Proposing County to cover all Continuing Education Units for employees who require them as a condition of employment
• Proposal on differential pay for our Central Med Unit workers, and much more!

In addition, departments such as Social Services, Mental Health, and JJC have ignored our pleas to make drastic changes now for the sake of our community. Are you ready to stand with your coworkers?

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE DIVIDING WORKERS

Fresno County Department Directors want to divide workers with promises that they are not fulfilling. These departments held all-staff meetings informing workers that they want to provide us with more benefits and pay and to bring it up during contract negotiations in order to receive these benefits and pay.

Well, we’re at the negotiation table, asking, and willing to work together with management to arrive at these increases and other needed changes that they told us they were ready to make.

It’s clear, department directors have no interest in backing up what they told us, and have instructed upper management to reject proposals (some that were the department’s idea)! We cannot allow this to happen. We must take action now!

It’s going to take all of us coming together to build pressure to make sure we can secure the benefits we deserve.

OUR PLAN TO BUILD POWER

1. Join with Other County Workers in Mobilizing Your Department 

County management will only take us seriously if they see workers visibly taking action in MASSIVE numbers across as many worksites as possible. Organize a worksite meeting or meeting by clicking here. 

2. Attend our next worksite picket actions. The Department of Social Services coordinated by our Contract Action Team, and fellow union members, are organizing an informational picket.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 1st at Clovis Campus Bldg 3

TIME: Come during your lunch break. We’ll be out picketing at 11:00 am  to 1:30 pm  Lunch will be provided for those that RSVP.

SAVE THE DATES FOR A PICKET NEAR YOU! 

• Thursday, November 9th, Clovis Campus Bldg 1, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Wednesday, November 15, Clovis Campus Bldg 2, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Need Additional Updates? Visit and save the page seiu521.org/FresnoCounty. On the contract campaign central webpage, you’ll find:

• Contract negotiations updates
• Upcoming worksite meetings, event, and actions
• Ways to get involved and more!

This update includes:

• Latest Contract Bargaining Update
• Ways To Help Win
• Oct. 12 Town Hall Recap

Contract Bargaining Update

As of our latest negotiations session, our bargaining team has submitted all our proposals to the County, and they have responded loud and clear: they have no desire to support its workforce and no desire to improve the quality of services to our community. The County continues to ignore critical issues, disregarding staff workload and safety concerns. County management rejected our proposals that would provide easy and proven solutions to address these issues.

“Our co-workers are the experts in our fields, and we understand what our community needs. So far, the County has demonstrated that they are not interested in the needs of those in the community we serve or the needs of our team members who work so hard to serve them. It’s heartbreaking and it goes against our departments mission statement. The time to join our fight for what we all deserve, and need is now!”
– Elizabeth Stone, Bargaining Committee Member

Here’s where the County stands on our proposals:

Rejected our request for additional security and metal detectors for the West Fresno Regional Center. Yet they just put in new detectors at the Hall of Records, along with the metal detectors already at County Plaza.

Disregarded simple needs for Mental Health Clinicians, who have for the past four years have a turnover rate of 194%

Rejected cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA) even though cost-of-living has drastically increased as a result of inflation

Rejected our proposal for EW, JS, and AS ‘Quiet Time’ to enter and process reports and administrative duties. According to the County, ‘Quiet time’ is already built into the schedule”, but it’s not.

Rejected our proposal for Lead Role and differential pay for Social Workers. According to the County, the duties of the lead are already performed by SW III so therefore there is no need to acknowledge a lead role.

Rejected to eliminate outdated language from our contract that takes away employees right to have breaks.

Rejected our proposal that would require the County to pay for Continuing Education Units that are required for employees to continue to do their work and provide services.

Rejected our proposal that would fairly compensate Office Assistants in the Central Medical Unit for working out of class.

“The County’s stance is clear – they currently see us as numbers to meet their bottom line. It’s not acceptable to me and it shouldn’t be to you either. So far, they’ve rejected all of our proposals that invest in our workforce around staffing and retention. Our bargaining team cannot win a strong contract without your participation, take part in our collective action to help build true leverage at the negotiations table.”
– Billal Mahmoud, Bargaining Committee Member

WAYS YOU CAN JOIN THE FIGHT TO WIN A FAIR CONTRACT

• Join dozens of our co-workers and community members by adding your name to our email action directed at the County Board and leadership (it takes less than 2 minutes to complete)
• Schedule worksite meetings with our union staff, bargaining team members and Contract ACTION Team (CAT) members; click here to sign up. 
• If you’re not a member, activate your membership today! Stand with your bargaining team and co-workers and signal to the County that your bargaining team is indeed speaking on your behalf.

OCTOBER 12 TOWN HALL RECAP

Our Combating a County Care & Service Crisis Town Hall Discussion on Thursday, October 12, was empowering, informative, and important for our continued fight for a fair contract. Over 200 county workers and residents heard directly from our co-workers on the frontline who support the needs of our most vulnerable community members. Workers expressed their commitment to improving the lives of those seeking support while outlining the various challenges they face. There was one consensus from our expert panelists, county worker speakers, and attendees who took part in questions throughout – safe staffing and access to adequate care and services save lives. The time for Fresno County to invest in our workforce is now! Join with dozens who already took action at the event by adding your name to our email action directed at the Board of Supervisors.Our message is simple: the Board of Supervisors must prioritize staffing by committing to investments that will enable the county to recruit and retain a strong workforce.

This update includes:

• Healthcare agreement ratification results 
• Latest contract negotiations update
• October 12 town hall save the date

very day, more and more of us are coming together to show that we are united in our fight for better working conditions through a strong and fair successor contract. Following our Dept. of Social Services press action last week, dozens more of our co-workers participated in worksite meetings and solidarity actions. This is the exact type of pressure that builds leverage for us at the negotiating table. Ready to plan a meeting or join an action in your worksite? Complete this short online interest form to get started. 

Healthcare Agreement Results 

Our collective actions enabled us to reach a new healthcare tentative agreement just last week. And we are pleased to share that following a two-day vote, the healthcare tentative agreement passed overwhelmingly with 97% of members in favor. It passed, and hundreds of us, including many new first-time members, took part in the vote! Download the healthcare tentative agreement here.

Contract Negotiations Update

As noted previously, your engagement and actions so far have been felt in our negotiations with County management. We’ve made clear that our county workforce is united behind our bargaining committee to secure common-sense solutions that address chronic vacancies and the county’s retention obstacles. We are laser-focused on putting forth proven proposals focused on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA’s), and retirement protections. In the coming sessions, we plan to move further along in our retention reports, which the county has expressed interest in.

October 12, 2023 Town Hall – Register Now

Our union bargaining committee is putting front and center the obstacles county workers like you face when providing service and care. On Thursday, October 12 at the Fresno Tower Theatre, we’re hosting a community town hall discussion. Fresno County workers, experts, and elected leaders are uniting to discuss the solutions County Management should prioritize to combat a county care and service crisis.

The October 12th town hall is an important opportunity for our union to demonstrate to the County that front-line workers and residents are serious about making Fresno County the best place to live, work, and raise our families. Registration is required to attend; click here to register to attend. Food and light refreshments will be provided starting at 5 p.m.

Share our Facebook event page here with friends, family, neighbors and your coworkers. We look forward to your participation at the Thursday, October 12 town hall discussion.

In unity,

Your SEIU 521 Fresno County Bargaining Committee

Riley Talford, Chapter President, Probation Dept.; Alysia Bonner, Chapter Vice President, Dept. of Public Health; Rene Torres, Chapter Vice President U12 Clerical, Dept. of Social Service; Billal Mahmoud, U12 Composite Vice President, Probation Dept.; Elizabeth Stone, U3 Composite Senior Shop Steward, Behavioral Health; Heather Etheridge, U4 Composite Vice President, Dept. of Social Services; John Adams, U22 Vice President, Development Services Division; John Jasper, U36 Supervisory Vice President, Probation Dept.; Lorenzo Lambaren, Chapter Sergeant at Arms, Dept. of Social Services; Lorraine Ramirez, U3 Social Workers Vice President, Dept. of Social Services: Lucia Sapiens, Chapter Secretary, Dept. of Social Service; Melissa Griggs, Chapter Chief Shop Steward, Dept. of Social Service; Michael Renteria, U4 EW Vice President, Dept. of Social Service Lamont Holliman, Unit 4 EW Senior Shop Steward, Dept. of Social Services; Sheryl Robledo, U36 Senior Shop Steward, Probation Dept.

Healthcare Agreement Approved 

Our collective actions enabled us to reach a new healthcare tentative agreement the week of September 25th. Following a two-day vote, the healthcare tentative agreement passed overwhelmingly with 97% of members in favor. It passed, and hundreds of us, including many new first-time members, took part in the vote!

Download Healthcare Tentative Agreement

Have additional questions or want to learn more about the new agreement? Join the Healthcare Webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 11 – 6pm

Date: Wednesday, Oct 11 – 6 pm 
Where: Online via Zoom, register here.

• Alysia Bonner, Chapter President, Dept. of Public Health
• Bilal Mahmoud, Probation Dept.
• Elizabeth Stone, Behavioral Health
• Heather Etheridge, Dept. of Social Services
• John Adams, Development Services Division
• John Jasper, Probation Dept.
• Lamont Holliman, Dept. of Social Services
• Lorenzo Lambaren, Dept. of Social Services
• Lorraine Ramirez, Dept. of Social Services
• Lucia Sapiens, Dept. of Social Service
• Melissa Griggs, Dept. of Social Service
• Michael Renteria, Dept. of Social Service
• Rebecca Goodmon, Dept. of Social Service
• Rene Torres, Dept. of Social Service
• Riley Talford, Probation Dept.
• Sheryl Robledo, Probation Dept.