Annual Labor Report

Labor Representation
Written By Emily Landis

For the period October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023



2023 Current Membership

Total Represented Employees: 1,747

  • 1557 Members        

  • 190 Non-Members


Represented Units

San Luis Obispo County Bargaining Units:

  • BU 01: Public Services – 864 Members

  • BU 02: Trades Crafts and Services – 162 Members

  • BU 05: Supervisory – 181 Members

  • BU 13: Clerical – 295 Members

Other Bargaining Units

  • California Superior Court Supervisory, Unit 19 - 8 Members

  • Los Osos Community Services District, Misc. Unit - 7 Members

  • Employees in “Unrepresented” units – 37 Members

 

2023 Highlights

New Employee Orientation

  • In January, SLO County restarted hosting their in-person New Employee Orientations.

  • Each month, SLOCEA representatives attend and present a 10-minute video that highlights SLOCEA representation and all the benefits of membership.

  • Giveaway bags containing useful information are given to each SLOCEA represented attendee.

SLOCEA Site Visits

  • SLOCEA hosts lunch for members at their work site location

  • Video on Membership Benefits and Representation is presented

  • Q&A with your Labor Representatives

  • Raffle Prizes and SLOCEA “Swag Bags” given out

  • Entry into SLOCEA’s Quarterly Raffle Drawing to win a Smart TV!

The County Blade

  • Relevant articles affecting your job, benefits, retirement, and more

  • “Public Service Spotlights” and “Retirement Junction” highlights SLOCEA members

  • “Find Feathers and Win!” campaign to encourage member engagement with The County Blade

  • Articles and letters from SLOCEA members

 

Labor Representation Report

  • 1,397 Member consultations on various matters

Examples of informal and inquiry assistance provided to members:

ADA accommodation, Career series, COVID and mask mandates, Disciplinary matters, Evaluations, FMLA, Grievance matters, Healthcare cost increases, Interactive Process, Interpersonal working relationships with coworkers/supervisors, Job spec revision communication, Leaves of absence, Medical separation, MOU inquiries and enforcement, Policy and procedure inquiries, Probationary release, Promotional recruitment, Sick leave usage, Step 6 pay issues, Teleworking, Timecard coding, Tuition reimbursement, Workload issues, Vacation usage, and more.

 

CASE ACTIVITY: Formal actions taken on behalf of members

  • 63 Cases Opened

  • 61 Cases Closed

  • 19 Cases currently open

  • 77 TOTAL CASES HANDLED DURING YEAR

CASE BREAKDOWN:

  • 31 Disciplinary Matters and Investigations

  • 13 Formal Discipline (Termination, Suspension, Demotion, Letter of Reprimand)

  • 10 Informal Discipline (Work Performance Memo, Performance Improvement Plan, Record of Discussion)

  • 8 Investigations

  • 18 Pre-Grievance Complaints and Grievances

  • 11 Interpersonal Matters with co-worker, supervisor or management

  • 9 Accommodations under ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

  • 4 Classification and Reclassification Matters

  • 4 Miscellaneous

 

MEET AND CONFER: County classification specification (job spec) revisions

  • Health Information Technician

  • Grounds Restorations Specialist

  • Mental Health medical Records Supervisor

  • Legal Clerk

  • Supervising Legal Clerk


MEET AND CONFER: Outsourcing To Private Sector

In all matters, SLOCEA worked to minimize the negative effects on employees. 

  • Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF): In July the County outsourced the in-patient PHF unit. While there were no layoffs, affected employees suffered significant wage loss due to pay differentials that are no longer applicable. Employee shuffling due to seniority created additional issues.

  • Drinking Driver Programs (DUI): County intends to outsource the DUI program in January. This should not result in layoffs but may require shuffling employees with seniority.

  • Juvenile Hall Medical Unit:  The County withdrew their intent to outsource the small unit at Probation’s Juvenile Hall. This would have likely resulted in layoffs, and employees would not have yet been vested in the Pension Trust.

 

MEET AND CONFER: Other County Matters

  • Uniform Allowance: Public Works/Planning & Building policy updates per MOU

  • Child Support Services Outreach Policy

  • Holiday exchange: Native American Day for Columbus Day

  • Social Services Assignment and Transfers policy

  • Side Letter signed for Library to participate in the Annual Leave Program

  • Library Attire policy

  • Health Agency vaccination policy

  • Minimum qualification language for classification specifications

 

MEET AND CONFER: Los Osos Community Services District (LOSCD)

  • Conducted a Joint Salary Survey

  • Parties revised and adopted a new Performance Evaluation

  • Parties revised and adopted an Administrative Clerk career series

  • LOCSD agreed on changes to the Personnel Policy regarding vacation approval, resulting from relief requested in a grievance filed.


MEET AND CONFER: Superior Court of SLO County

Side Letter Agreements:

  • May – Supervising Court Reporter Retention Initiative

    • One-time lump sum retention payment of $10,000

  • June – Retention Initiative

    • One-time lump sum payment of $2,000 for all employees

  • August – Supervising Court Reporter Incentives

    • $10,000 “Finder’s Fee”

    • $15,000 Signing Payment

    • Up to $27,500 for Student Loan and Equipment Allowance for newly certified and hired Supervising Court Reporters

    • $10,000 Relocation Stipend for newly hired Supervising Court Reporters

  • Dental Insurance Enhancements

 

Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)

  • November 3, 2022: SLOCEA filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) against the County for unilaterally changing the Sheriff’s Correctional Technician schedule change policy without meeting and conferring.

  • July 25, 2023: SLOCEA filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) against the County for failing to notice SLOCEA of Final Order of Discipline for a member we represented during a Skelly.

  • August 1, 2023: The County filed a ULP against SLOCEA for failing to participate in impasse/factfinding procedures in good faith (CSC Rule Change Negotiations)

  • August 31, 2023:  SLOCEA filed a ULP against the County for failing to participate in impasse/factfinding procedures in good faith (CSC Rule Change Negotiations)

 

OTHER COUNTY MATTERS and ACTIONS

  • County healthcare costs increasing 15.5% in January 2024. Despite SLOCEA requests that the County help offset the financial burden, the County has refused to provide any relief for employees.

  • County Social Services’ Participant Services is suffering serious staffing and workload issues. At the same time the County is implementing CalSAWS, a new case management system which is further exacerbating matters.

 

By Theresa Schultz, Senior Labor Representative

Emily Landis
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