2022 Collective Bargaining Update
The collective bargaining season is off and running for 2022. Accordingly, SLOCEA is now at the bargaining table with two different employers on behalf of represented bargaining units.
Los Osos Community Services District (LOCSD)
On March 31, 2022, SLOCEA’s Miscellaneous Unit Negotiating Team for the LOCSD met for session number 1 with the District for the current LOCSD bargaining cycle. The representatives for each party were as follows:
SLOCEA CSD Negotiating Team:
Pat McNamara, SLOCEA General Manager/Chief Negotiator
Theresa Schultz, SLOCEA Senior Labor Representative
Carol Gilmer, Negotiator/Miscellaneous Unit
Ehan Good, Negotiator/Miscellaneous Unit
District “Management” Representatives:
Ron Munds, LOCSD General Manager
Laura Durban, Admin. Services Manager
During session 1, SLOCEA submitted a proposal to the District for a comprehensive economic package, including:
2-year term,
Meaningful wage increases for each year the MOU
Increase in sick leave buyout,
Increase in cafeteria cash out
Implementation of a longevity sick leave benefit
Increased in standby pay rate
On April 11, 2022, SLOCEA received a counterproposal from the District covering economic issues, which at press time was still under consideration by the parties.
County Negotiations
On Monday April 4 and 25, 2022, the Big Unit and Trades Unit Negotiating Teams met with San Luis Obispo County negotiators for negotiation sessions one and two for the current bargaining cycle. To recap, the representatives for each party were as follows:
Supporting all SLOCEA Negotiating Teams:
Dennis Hayes, SLOCEA General Counsel & Chief Negotiator
Pat McNamara, SLOCEA General Manager
Theresa Schultz, SLOCEA Senior Labor Representative
Big Unit Team (Units 01, 05 and 13):
Erin Stich, SLOCEA President/DA’s Office/Clerical Unit
Emily Landis, SLOCEA Vice President/DSS/Public Service Unit
Jeremiah Damery, Negotiator/Environment Health/Public Services Unit
Christopher Summers, Negotiator/Public Works/Supervisory Unit
Trades Unit Team (Unit 02/AKA: “Trades, Crafts, and Services):
Tim Faes, Negotiator/Parks Dept./Trades Unit
Kevin Sulitz, Negotiator/Parks Dept./Trades Unit
Jim Hutchinson, Negotiator/Public Works/Trades Unit
Mike Johnson, Negotiator/Public Works/Trades Unit
Robert St. Cyr, Negotiator/Public Works/Trades Unit
County of San Luis Obispo Team:
Jeff Sloan, Outside Counsel & Chief Negotiator
Tami Douglas-Schatz, Human Resources Director
Mark Zeltmann, Deputy Human Resources Director
Michael Hobbs, County Human Resources
Ashleigh Szkubiel, County Human Resources
Teresa McCarthy-White, County Human Resources
During these first two sessions, SLOCEA submitted several non-economic proposals on behalf of each represented unit, for inclusion in the respective successor Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). The topics covered by SLOCEA’s proposals included: meal breaks, investigative interviews, retirement contribution increases, upward re-classifications, new employee orientation, negotiator release time, an alternative hearing procedure for disciplinary and grievance hearings.
Although the County did not submit any proposals in session 1 (4/4/2022), it did submit some counterproposals during session 2 (4/25/2022), pertaining to retirement contributions, upward re-classifications, and negotiator release time.
The county further discussed conceptual MOU language pertaining to meal breaks but deferred to a future negotiation session, the submission of an actual proposal/counterproposal for SLOCEA consideration.
Session 2 concluded with the parties signing a tentative agreement, which concurrently settled an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge filed by SLOCEA in February 2022 (LA-CE-1565-M).
Typically, negotiations may last several sessions covering many weeks or months before an overall agreement is reached (and barring any impasse scenario). Although a quick conclusion to the negotiating process is always a bonus, howbeit a rare one, there are many important topics to be discussed and negotiated during the current bargaining cycles. We obviously cannot sacrifice a fair outcome for our members for the sake of expediency.
For more comprehensive information on the status of negotiations, SLOCEA members can log onto the members only portal at https://portal.slocea.org. As always, we appreciate the continued patience and support of the membership as we work through the many important topics that are currently under consideration at the bargaining tables.
God Bless!
Pat McNamara
Executive Director
