BCEA members,
Please read this in its entirety. It contains important bargaining and survey information.
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the City Council meeting this past Tuesday. It was important for Council members to hear directly from you, the employees who keep the City of Brea running daily. By standing together in solidarity, we sent a powerful message: BCEA members know their value, are united in their goals, and are prepared to strongly advocate for the fair contract they deserve.
On Thursday, your negotiations team met with the City to receive its latest counterproposal. After two months of bargaining with almost no City movement, the message delivered by BCEA members at Tuesday night’s Council meeting was finally heard. The City made some movement on wages, though not in the way we proposed.
Here is the City’s wage proposal:
- 3% one-time lump sum—2026 (upon contract adoption)
- 2% wage increase—July 2027
What’s the difference between a wage increase and a lump sum?
- A one-time lump-sum payment is similar to a bonus check. You receive the money once, but your hourly rate stays the same. Because your hourly rate does not change, your overtime rate, pension contributions, and future raises also stay the same. The payment is subject to taxes and deductions. The city is proposing 3%, which is based on your annual base salary. For example: A $50,000 annual salary would receive a lump sum of $1,500 while a $100,000 salary would receive $3,000; before taxes and deductions.
- A base-building raise increases your hourly rate. That means you earn more on every paycheck, your overtime rate increases, and your pensionable earnings increase. Future raises are also calculated on the higher rate, so the value of the raise grows over time.
Your negotiations team has also fought hard at the bargaining table for an improvement to the City’s contribution toward medical benefits. After years without any changes to the City’s contribution levels, the City has agreed to increase its contributions at each coverage tier to amounts that are more in line with those offered by comparable cities.
The proposed City contribution amounts are:
- Single employee – $950 per month ($150/mo. increase)
- Employee + 1 dependent – $1,600 per month ($425/mo. increase)
- Employee + 2 or more dependents – $2,100 per month ($550/mo. increase)
Now we need your input. Your contract expires on June 30, and the increase to the City’s medical benefit contributions will not take effect until a successor agreement is adopted. As a result, continuing to push for a larger base-building general wage increase will mean less money in members’ pockets in the short term.
At the same time, a base-building wage increase has a lasting effect. It permanently increases your salary, raises your overtime rate, increases pensionable earnings, and serves as the foundation for future wage increases and other compensation tied to your base pay. We can’t make guarantees as to any outcome, but BCEA members proved on Tuesday that when they want something, they’re willing to fight for it.
Another factor to consider is that the City presented the 3% lump sum payment as a one-time offer. If it is not accepted now, there is a possibility that the City will try to exclude it from future proposals.
Given the pros and cons, do you believe we should accept the framework of this deal and bring negotiations to a close, or continue bargaining in pursuit of a stronger agreement? Please refer to the survey link in your email to cast your vote.
In Solidarity,
BCEA
