The contract negotiations that led around 100 county workers to
demonstrate for higher wages in September have been resolved.
Hollister – The contract negotiations that led around 100 county workers to demonstrate for higher wages in September have been resolved.
A full “memorandum of understanding” is still being drawn up, said union negotiator Lori Woodle, but it’s largely “a formality.” The Board of Supervisors has already approved a number of salary changes, including a 3 percent, across-the-board increase.
“I believe we reached a good contract,” said Woodle, also an accountant with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s fair to a lot of groups of people.”
The already-approved changes also include an additional 2.5 percent raise at the completion of an employee’s 20th, 25th and 30th years with the county, as well as training pay for correctional training officers, juvenile hall training officers and communications training officers.
The salaries published in the Oct. 19 Free Lance article “County Behind Neighbors in Government Compensation” reflect the older contract, said county management analyst Jacki Credico. But the new contract won’t affect top manager salaries.
The county’s salary list is “in transition” as the new MOU is prepared and administrators continue to negotiate with the union for mid-level managers, Credico said.