COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Resources Department

 

DATE:

October 25, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 9, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Donna Vaillancourt, Human Resources Department Director

SUBJECT:

Memorandum of Understanding with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution adopting the Memorandum of Understanding with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for the provision of salary and benefits for the term of August 8, 2010 through October 13, 2012.

 

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:

The current MOU expired on August 7, 2010, and the County concluded negotiations with AFSCME on August 30, 2010. The membership has ratified the County’s offer, making it the first bargaining unit to achieve ongoing structural changes in wages, health benefits, retirement and retiree health. This will contribute long-term savings toward eliminating the County’s $100+ million structural deficit. AFSCME represents over 38% of County employees in bargaining units. The following summarizes the major elements in the Memoranda of Understanding.

 

Term

August 8, 2010 – October 13, 2012 (Two years and two months)

 

Wage Increase

No wage increases during the term of the agreement.

 

Health Benefits

Effective April 1, 2011, the health premium sharing ratio will change from 90% County paid to 85% County paid for the HMO plans and from 80% to 75% for the Point of Service (POS) plan.

 

Effective April 1, 2011, all three medical plans will have increases in co-pays.

 

Effective January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2012, each AFSCME employee will receive a $200 credit to their flexible spending account.

 

Retirement

New employees hired on or after July 1, 2011 will be offered two retirement tiers; 1.7255% @ 58, or a non-contributory plan. The current plan of 2% @ 55.5 will be closed, however, will remain available for an employee to purchase after the completion of ten years of service if the employee elects to pay all costs retroactive to their date of hire.

 

Upon implementation with all bargaining units in the retirement plan, new employees hired after January 1, 2011 will pay up to fifty percent of the retirement cost of living adjustment.

 

Retiree Health

Employees hired on or after January 1, 2011 will receive $400 per eight hours of accrued sick leave to utilize for retiree healthcare premiums.

 

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form. Approval of these resolutions contributes to Shared Vision 2025 of a Prosperous Community by ensuring cost-effective compensation structures for County employees.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

During the 26-month term of this agreement, the County will realize savings of approximately $4,231,000. The ongoing structural savings will be $2,435,000 per year with estimated savings of over $9 million in retirement costs by year ten.