Kern County negotiates labor deal, avoids strike 6,600 employees

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.montereyherald.com/state/ci_6761814

Kern County negotiates labor deal, avoids strike
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 08/30/2007 03:33:33 PM PDT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Kern County avoided a possible strike by its employees by negotiating a contract deal with the Service Employees International Union.

In a deal reached Wednesday, about 4,900 county employees represented by the union will get immediate raises of at least 5 percent, and as much as 39 percent. All 6,600 employees represented by SEIU Local 521 will get at least a 4 percent raise and additional 4 percent raises in July 2008 and July 2009, officials said.

The union representing social workers, Kern Medical Center employees, parks and recreation workers and other county employees voted to strike Saturday. Members will need to approve the new plan, and Kern County supervisors will need to ratify the deal next month for it to become final.

Contract negotiations between the SEIU and the county foundered last week after the two sides disagreed on three points: a county proposal to have new employees shoulder the investment risk in their retirement plan, equitable compensation in job classifications and a retroactive pay raise.

The board of supervisors avoided a walkout by bringing in a federal labor mediator, who helped broker the new deal.

http://www.seiu521.org/

[Kumbaya Dammit]

1. A bit of clarification -

The Californian is making it sound like this is a done deal. The union is a democratic organization. The Kern County bargaining team, which was elected by the members as represented by the stewards' council, has reached an understanding with the Board of Supervisors and have recommended the members accept this offer.

However, the members still have to vote. Since they have already authorized a strike, if the majority vote to reject this contract, the strike may yet go forward. Stay tuned, the vote will be counted Saturday the 8th.

[Kumbaya Dammit]

2. Update - Kern County workers vote to accept contract

County employees OK 'compromise' contract
BY EMILY HAGEDORN, Californian staff writer
e-mail: [e-mail] | Saturday, Sep 8 2007 9:30 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Sep 8 2007 9:35 PM

After months of negotiations and narrowly avoiding a strike, Kern County's general employees approved a new contract Saturday.

"I don't think it's a victory for either side," said Brian Russom, a member of the bargaining team for the Service Employees International Union, Local 521. "It was a compromise."

About 79 percent of the union members who voted approved the three-year contract...

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/231776.html