OCEA member,
The County is not moving. It is time to escalate.
Unfortunately, there has been no meaningful movement from the County since our last update.
Our contract expired on June 30, and the County still has not proposed any base-building wage increases. The County’s position is that providing raises would require layoffs. At the same time, the County continues to maintain significant reserves and has approved double-digit salary increases for executives. The employees who keep County services running every day deserve better.
The County has also proposed reducing or eliminating multiple benefits for OCEA members, including changes that could put bilingual pay for thousands of employees at risk. These are real impacts on employees’ pay and benefits, not just words on a bargaining proposal. Rather than investing in its workforce, the County is asking employees to give more while offering less.
The County has rejected many of OCEA’s economic and non-economic proposals and has shown little willingness to engage on the issues that matter most to employees. The County’s approach has made one thing clear: movement will not happen without pressure.
OCEA is not going to stand by while the County dismisses employee concerns and refuses to engage in meaningful problem-solving. We are watching, we are prepared, and we will continue taking action to hold County leadership accountable.
We know many members are asking why negotiations are taking so long and when we will reach an agreement. The answer is simple: reaching an agreement only matters if it is an agreement that moves employees forward. We cannot accept a contract that leaves employees behind. The County’s delay does not change what is at stake—retro on zero is still zero. That is why OCEA continues pushing for meaningful movement at the bargaining table.
The Board of Supervisors has not met since June. While everyone deserves time away from work, County employees know that critical business cannot simply be put on hold. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened with these negotiations.
That is why OCEA is escalating our efforts.
Over the coming weeks, OCEA’s bargaining team will meet directly with members of the Board of Supervisors to show them that the resources exist to invest in County employees. But elected officials also need to hear directly from the employees who keep County services running every day.
This next phase will require member involvement. County leaders need to see that employees are united and ready to stand up for a fair contract.
Here’s what’s next:
OCEA will hold virtual membership meetings on Thursday, July 30, at Noon and 5:30 p.m. to provide a comprehensive bargaining update. More details will be shared soon.
If the County continues treating its workforce as an afterthought, OCEA will take our message directly to the public, the media, and the Board of Supervisors at the August 25 Board of Supervisors meeting.
The County will only move when employees stand together. If you are ready to get involved and help hold County leadership accountable, visit www.ocea.org/getinvolved.
Team OCEA
