Times are getting tough … real tough. Local governments are looking at ways to control spending. Since 75-80% of local government costs are wages and benefits, guess where local officials are looking?
The PressDemocrat.Com tells us what is happening in Sonoma County, CA…
Members of the union representing about 2,700 Sonoma County government workers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize their contract negotiating team to call a strike, if they see fit.
“The overwhelming support for strike authorization demonstrates that county workers will not resolve these negotiations without a solution for affordable health care,” said Ken Tam, a regional parks planner who also serves on the Service Employees International Union’s negotiating team.
Union officials did not release the total number of members voting on the issue, but said that more than 81 percent of those who cast votes in the one-week balloting had approved the measure.
The dispute stems from unresolved contract negotiations, largely over medical insurance cost-sharing, on an agreement that expired in June. Negotiations broke down in late October, and the union’s bargaining team refused to put the county’s final proposal to a vote of the membership.
Instead, union leaders asked members to approve a resolution authorizing negotiators to call a strike if they believe talks aren’t getting anywhere. Negotiators for the county and the union are expected to begin a new round of contract talks in February.
If there is no resolution, county supervisors have already approved plans to impose the administration’s proposal on employees represented by the SEIU, beginning in May. That unilateral action converts the county’s share of health care premiums for employees to a $500 monthly contribution, eliminating the current payment that is equal to 85 percent of the employee’s health plan choice.
This could be coming to your location soon!
