Listen to this note:
San Mateo County supervisors on Tuesday approved new three-year labor contracts with the county's largest employee unions.
The new contracts include a five percent raise in each of the next two years and a four percent raise in 2026. Employees will also receive additional contributions toward health care premiums.
"Our residents expect the highest quality public service and we firmly believe that we have the best public service workers in the state," said the board president, Warren Slocum.
"These wage increases will help us ensure that we can retain and attract a workforce that will continue to serve our community now and in the future. We are truly investing in the people who make our community run smoothly," he added.
The covered bargaining units include the county’s two largest unions: the Service Employees International Union Local 521, as well as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. These unions combined represent 3,690 regular employees and 1,140 employees on additional help.
Supervisors also approved new resolutions for managers, attorneys and unrepresented confidential employees who are not covered by union contracts. These new resolutions closely reflect the changes made in the new union contracts.
All workers covered by the contracts and resolutions will receive two wellness days, which encourage employees to take time off to focus on their health. All workers will also receive Cesar Chavez Day as a paid holiday beginning in 2025.
Employees covered by the SEIU contract and resolution with managers, attorneys and unrepresented confidential employees will receive three days of “winter break” at the end of December 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The contract with SEIU Local 521 includes a wide range of job classifications, including accountants, library assistants, office specialists, criminal records technicians and election specialists, among others.
Positions covered by the AFSCME contract include cardiac sonographers, epidemiologists, forest rangers, veterans services officers and child services workers, among others.
The contracts approved by the supervisors add up to approximately $57 million in additional spending in the first year of the agreements.
Under all agreements, employees would receive an additional 1 percent pay increase in 2026 (up to 5 percent) if legislation is signed ensuring the county receives the full amount of the vehicle license fee adjustment. This is an ongoing dispute between the county and state officials with tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue at stake annually.
You may be interested in: Electoral measures, a necessary tool to give voice to all communities
