The agreement establishes a pathway to controlling the County fueled staffing crisis, and controls healthcare costs
Monterey County, CA – After nearly half a year of negotiations, Monterey County and the more than 3,000 public sector workers represented by SEIU Local 521 reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. The agreement aims to resolve a staffing crisis propelled by County management and fueled by the lack of investments in public and health services provided to residents.
The three-year agreement includes 7% of general wage increases, Juneteenth as a paid holiday, controls to healthcare costs, and a staffing committee to begin resolving over 600 vacancies eroding the public services provided to the community.
Following three days of voting, Monterey County members represented by SEIU Local 521 ratified the deal on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
“We are extremely proud to have stood resilient and united throughout negotiations,” said Deonda “Dee” Guerrero, Eligibility Supervisor for the County of Monterey and SEIU 521 Chapter President. “As a result, we have an agreement that will truly help us meet the needs of our families and the community we serve. This agreement allows us to begin to rebuild the major impact of over 600 staffing vacancies, protects our healthcare, and provides workers with a raise each year to ensure Monterey County can be an excellent place to live, work, and raise our families.”
SEIU 521 Chief Elected Officer Riko Mendez provided the following statement on the agreement:
“All along, our Monterey County members have maintained focus on addressing the obstacles that impact the communities they serve every day. SEIU 521 members have advocated for those they serve – and will continue to do so – from solutions to address issues that directly impact at-risk children within the Department of Family and Children’s Services, to advocating for the vital needs of children and foster parents, as well as urging to solve staffing shortages at Natividad, the county hospital, 9-1-1 Dispatch, and other critical departments. This fight was about justice for all workers. Frontline county workers of SEIU 521 demonstrated that when working people come together, we can build a brighter future for our communities, our co-workers, and our families.”
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Service Employees International Union, Local 521 represents more than 4,000 public-sector workers across Monterey County. Under a Community First vision, we are committed to making sure the needs of our community, and the vital services we provide our community, come first. We believe our communities thrive when residents, leaders, and workers recognize that we are all in this together when it comes to our safety, health, and well-being.
