Wednesday, November 11, 2015 – 08:30 a.m.
The largest union representing San Bernardino County workers, Teamsters Local 1932, has set a contract ratification vote in motion.
Probably under the working premise that something is better than nothing, the essentially four-year deal doles out a back-loaded cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) averaging between 1.25% to 2% per year, over the term of the proposed contract.
The COLA amount is dependent on an employees longevity.
Employees also secured the usual equity raise ingredient for “certain” classifications, along with a small increase toward health benefits.
The San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA), hoping to improve its luck at the bargaining table, voted to affiliate with the Teamsters earlier this year. Now we can see the result of that move. Before the affiliation, SBPEA was essentially useless.
So on this point, and this point alone, the change is an improvement.
However, when a labor contract is being considered, and the terms are not in plain view, one can conclude it’s not a stellar deal.
The latest employment report, released by the U.S. Department of Labor last Friday, showed wage growth now at a 2.5% annual rate. The number has been slowly rising over the past year.
County workers in this deal have secured a number that’s statistically far less than the national average.
San Bernardino County workers are, and will continue to be, paid far less than most Inland Empire jurisdictions.
It’s the county that’s the clear winner here!
Only the rank and file are poorly paid. The BOS needs to be held accountable for the obscene salary increases at the top beginning in 1999 or 2000, when property tax receipts inflated county coffers. The housing bubble bust should have opened up a discussion of rolling back some of the ill begotten unsustainable salary jumps for the at will class. Deveareax has stepped on the necks of the working 99 percent and the retirees – by taking their medical subsidy away.
The at will class need a haircut.
And all the additional new assistants and executive level positions at higher salaries from mid 2000s and those added even after the economy tanked and employees were told there was no money to give raises or cost of living, and even had money taken away. Shameful unchecked greed that was projected on those 99% getting screwed. They laughed all the way to the bank while the public vilified those wretched rank and file employees. And they are still laughing.
Deveraux and the degenerate HR director both should be fired. They are a cancer on the county.
Please vote this in, I really want the cost of goods and services, medical care provided by the county, property taxes, and pretty much everything else to outpace my “you’re lucky to have a job” salary. Thanks Teamster’s, can’t wait to have your cut of my salary increase too. job well done!