Santa Cruz County Contract Campaign Central
Welcome to the official contract update webpage for the 2024 SEIU Local 521 Santa Cruz County contract campaign. The campaign central page includes negotiation updates, workplace and action alerts, resources, and member features. Stay tuned for updates. Prepare yourself and your co-workers for 2024 by signing up for union alerts. CLICK HERE to ensure your contact information is updated today.
To auto-scroll directly to the sections on this page you are looking for, click the links below:
(SEIU 521 Member Actions Across Santa Cruz County)
Winning the Best Contract Starts With Getting Involved Now
- Activate your membership today by clicking here. Our strength lies in our numbers, and all the gains we’ve won over the years were possible through our collective strength.
- Stay in the know by ensuring you are receiving updates from your union. Access to communication is critical. If you are not receiving our union’s text and email alerts, update your contact information or sign up today.
- Become a CAT by joining the Contract Action Team – CAT’s are essential to ensuring our county co-workers have the latest updates – and planning and executing workplace actions. Sign up to become a CAT here.
Santa Cruz County Union Contract Expiration – September 18, 2024 – OUR CONTRACT EXPIRED!
Negotiation Updates
The following updates reflect the latest at the negotiations table with Santa Cruz County management. Please check back regularly for updates.
We Won! – Tentative Agreement Voting Details
Our collective efforts and continuous organizing over the last four months positioned our member elected bargaining committee to reach a tentative agreement with Santa Cruz County.
We fought back against proposed health insurance concessions and won the largest wage increases in nearly 10 years, equity wage adjustments to 25 benchmarks job classifications impacting over 800 workers, and increased health care contributions from the county for the next three years. Our elected SEIU 521 Santa Cruz County bargaining team is proud to recommend a YES vote to ratify our historic contract.
Our continuous actions and strike readiness made the difference during our campaign! We brought attention to the dysfunctionality of department directors, bad managers, and personnel, but our work continues.
We must now vote on the TA to ratify or reject our agreement before going to the Board of Supervisors to authorize the agreement with the County of Santa Cruz
Click here to view the TA Summary.
Click the image to download the TA Health Insurance Rates (as of 9/27/24)
Ratification Vote: Wednesday, October 2 – Friday, October 4
We will be conducting the TA ratification vote online using our secure third-party vendor, Election Buddy.
Vote Starts – Wednesday, October 2 at 8:00 a.m.
Vote Closes – Friday, October 4 at 5:00 p.m.
Click this link or the image above for the full schedule.
Only active members will be eligible to cast a vote during the ratification period, if you are not a member, click here to activate your membership today.
TA Education & Worksite Voting Support Meetings
We are hosting multiple TA education meetings for members to attend, including a General Membership meeting at the Santa Cruz union hall on Tuesday, October 1, at 5:30 p.m. RSVP here to attend: https://forms.gle/MgPejiY5kAoMYV7CA
Members are encouraged to visit worksite voting support meetings throughout the week.
Click here for the full schedule of locations and times.
We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming TA education meeting.
United Membership Strength Is Propelling Our Campaign Forward!
United Membership Strength Is Propelling Our Campaign Forward!
Our campaign is gaining momentum as media coverage highlights our fight for justice, and our bargaining proposals continue to push management for real change. The voices of our workers are being heard, and our demands for fair wages, affordable healthcare, and safe working conditions are gaining public support. Every media appearance and bargaining session brings us closer to securing the contract we deserve. Our solidarity is stronger than ever, and we’re committed to seeing this through.
Check out the latest coverage!
KION- FOX 456
Click on the article images below to download!
Santa Cruz Sentinel Article
Santa Cruz County’s contract with largest union expires!
Lookout Santa Cruz! Article
Review management’s latest proposal and how we are making gains at the table: (click the image to download)
Bargaining.Update.Proposals.09.18.2024
Bargaining Update Sep 16 – New County Counter Proposals
County Management’s latest bargaining proposal (click to download proposal)
County management provided another counter offer during today’s all-day negotiation session, on September 16, 2024.
Last week we also received the: the county’s health insurance rate proposal (click to download)
County management’s impact on the workforce, particularly focusing on affordability, coverage quality, and the broader implications for family healthcare costs are articulated by the county’s proposals. Our goal remains to secure a deal that ensures fair and accessible healthcare for all workers without burdening them with excessive costs and a raise that outpaces the cost of healthcare and by the state of negotiations, we will be forced to fight for what we need to make end’s meet and ensure the rent is paid as a member of the Santa Cruz County workforce.
Bargaining Update – Sep 6 – County Economic and Healthcare Counterproposals
County Management’s proposed three year ‘economic package deal’ (click to download entire proposal)
Due to the efforts of the general membership and the bargaining team, County management finally provided several counters on health insurance and an ‘economic package deal’ on September 5, 2024.
Click here to download the county’s health insurance rate proposal.
County management’s impact on the workforce, particularly focusing on affordability, coverage quality, and the broader implications for family healthcare costs are articulated by the county’s proposals. Our goal remains to secure a deal that ensures fair and accessible healthcare for all workers without burdening them with excessive costs and a raise that outpaces the cost of healthcare and by the state of negotiations, we will be forced to fight for what we need to make end’s meet and ensure the rent is paid as a member of the Santa Cruz County workforce.
Bargaining Update – Sep 3
During our In our Last bargaining session, the County management insulted our team by offering offered a 2.5%, 2%, 2% cost of living adjustment while rejecting nearly all of and declined almost all of our the Union’s proposed equity adjustments. They even want to also proposed stripping taking away our workers’ right to protest and show unity during negotiations.
The County’s proposals are a disgraceful and fail to address the and we need more to deal with the high cost of living in Santa Cruz County. This is why we are getting strike ready if the County will not offer reasonable adjustments. That is why we are committed to getting strike ready!
Sign our strike commitment card now to help us gain an edge in negotiations and help us turn the tide in negotiations!
Bargaining Update | We’ve Decided to Strike Back! Join Us and Get Strike Ready! Aug 30 Update
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The County is stalling, and it is up to all of us to show we are prepared to fight to win what we all need and deserve. County management is hardly moving in their counter proposals to the union’s economic package. With HUD considering 80% of County workers’ pay to be low-income for Santa Cruz, this is not the time for Personnel to play games. The County offered the following terms:
Across departments, Personnel and their failing directors are on a mission to upend our co-workers’ schedules and damage county services. In behavioral health, a Grand Jury report determined the department to have a 40% vacancy rate.
The County is forcing through a 24/7 on-call schedule between SIX workers, despite the vacancy challenge. Even worse, managers threaten workers with discipline for non-compliance despite obvious threats of overwork and fatigue. These examples are among an endless number of problems this Personnel regime creates. They would rather erode public services from the inside out, injuring our workforce before negotiating fairly with our union. For them it’s about power, so we MUST match the energy. We are preparing now to organize our co-workers to strike ready! Our campaign needs hundreds of members like you to stand up and show Personnel that in a time when 80% of County workers are considered low-income, NOW IS THE TIME to unite and ensure our future. Sign the Strike commitment HERE: https://forms.gle/QCR9sCa9DWsKuyob8 |
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Negotiations are Underway!
Negotiations are underway, and we need your support now more than ever!
At our fifth bargaining session on August 8, our bargaining committee presented our final proposals. This is a critical moment in our negotiations, and your involvement is crucial.
Click here to review the bargaining proposal summary.
Bargaining is intense, with many critical issues to address, including:
- Health and Safety of Employees: Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.
- Use of Extra Help in Budgeted Positions: Addressing the improper use of temporary staff in positions that should be permanently staffed.
- Cost of New Buildings: Holding the county accountable for the allocation of funds, especially when they claim financial constraints.
Throughout these discussions, we have faced a recurring challenge: the lack of objectivity and cooperativeness from Personnel in resolving multiple issues during the contract term. This obstacle only strengthens our resolve to fight for a fair and just contract.
We are advancing with a campaign to Fight to WIN!
Our first major action is the Board Action on Tuesday, August 13. We need to show the Board of Supervisors that we are united and determined. Your presence will demonstrate our solidarity and commitment to our cause. RSVP HERE
In the next bargaining session, we will discuss:
- Workload Issues: Ensuring manageable workloads for all employees.
- Vacancies: Addressing the high levels of vacant positions and pushing for proper staffing.
- Health and Safety Concerns: Continuing to advocate for the well-being of our members.
If you have stories or concerns regarding health and safety, please share them with us by emailing here. Your experiences are vital in shaping our negotiations and strengthening our position.
Get involved in your UNION Campaign:
- Attend the August 13 Board Action: Show your support and solidarity by attending this critical meeting.
- Organize Your Worksite: Join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help mobilize and organize your colleagues.
- Upload these Zoom Backgrounds to support IHSS workers (upload flipped image).
- Sign Up to Be a Member: Remember, MEMBERSHIP equals POWER. The more members we have, the stronger our voice.
Together, we can make a difference.
Bargaining Principles – July 16 Update
Welcome to our campaign! We are 1,800 county workers strong focusing united by our fight to raise our standards of living and attain a real work-life balance. Together, as county workers we strive to secure fair wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
Our collective strength is our greatest asset, and with your support, we can achieve the dignity and respect that every worker deserves. Join us as we stand together to make a lasting impact on our community and our future.
Check out our Bargaining Principles which summarizes the standards and practices we are using to approach bargaining.
ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR 2024 BARGAINING PRINCIPLES
Santa Cruz County, the most expensive county in the U.S., is plagued by chronic short-staffing, burnout and exhaustion driven by unrealistic workloads, destroying our public services infrastructure. Our health and behavioral health clinics, roads, public works and social services are bending under the weight of understaffing, leaving some departments up to 40% vacant. We are united and committed to addressing and repairing detrimental issues impacting Santa Cruz County's public services. We must fight to make sure our community's needs are addressed through sweeping and impactful changes.
RAISES
ADDRESS the vacancy crisis devastating county services through fair pay.
PROVIDE a cost-of-living adjustment ensuring wages are not devalued by the spiraling cost of living.
NO TAKEAWAYS to healthcare or other negotiated benefits.
PRIORITIZE market adjustments to ensure a competitive workforce in agencies experiencing unprecedented vacancy rate and turnover increases.
PROVIDE On-Call compensation for time that workers sacrifice. On-Call “callouts” are rising sharply, risking our community safety and ability to grapple with disasters and weather events.
FIX our broken bilingual pay system by expanding languages for which the county will compensate workers.
REST
LEAD as the first public agency in California to win the 32-hour workweek, at 40 hours pay—a proven way to increase productivity and reduce staff burnout—allowing County workers to reclaim their personal time.
ADDRESS dangerous fatigue for On-Call essential duties and Disaster Service Work through a Fatigue Allowance, which prevents late-night callouts from becoming a tiresome and dangerous extension to a worker's workday.
PROTECT and expand the retirement system that guarantees rest after decades of work. As attacks on retirement occur, we must prevent any changes and expand our benefits that have not improved in 14 years.
RESPECT
RECLAIM our ability to strike and hold the County accountable during the life our contract.
STRENGTHEN our worker committees by creating consequences for the County's lack of follow-through.
REIN IN location transfers, arbitrary schedule changes, and other methods the County uses to punish workers.
CREATE a hiring and transfer system that respects employee seniority.
PROVIDE a pathway to permanency for our extra-help workers and expand the rights afforded to our temporary workforce.
Worksite Meeting Sign-up
We all agree county workers need more staffing, not a mass exodus, and not continued bandaids. Join your Santa Cruz County co-workers who are already organizing workplace meetings. Are you interested in hosting or attending a member meeting at your workplace? Fill out the online interest form below or click here to get started.