COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Employee and Public Services

DATE:

June 24, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 15, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Mary Welch, Employee and Public Services Director

Neil Cullen, Depart of Public Works Director

SUBJECT:

Memorandum of Understanding with the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC)

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC).

Background

The current Memorandum of Understanding provides that employees in certain classifications will be provided uniform shirts up to a value of $100.00 annually and will also be provided vouchers with a value of $141.00 annually for the purchase of safety shoes. The administration of this voucher system and the tracking of the number and amount of shirts issued to individual employees is complex and costly in terms of the time and wages of employees responsible for the administration of the system. As a result, the Public Works Department and BCTC have met and conferred on an alternative system that will provide an annual stipend in lieu of vouchered reimbursements. Employees will still be required to purchase safety shoes that meet Department guidelines and will still be required to purchase sufficient uniform shirts to enable a professional appearance. The agreement reached between the parties is as follows:

· For Facilities and Construction staff only, provide an annual cash allowance in the amount of $300.00 for safety shoes and logo shirts and discontinue the current practice of providing shirts (up to $100.00 in shirts may be ordered per employee annually) and providing a voucher for one pair of safety shoes (up to $141.00 per employee annually).

Vision Alignment

This item keeps the commitment of responsive, effective and collaborative government through goal number 20; Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

Fiscal Impact

Estimated annual cost for the elements of the Amendment is $1,652.00. This increased cost will be fully offset by savings in time required to track and administer the current voucher system.