SJ City sets record straight on labor negotiations status
All sorts of wild claims are (predictably) emanating from the Labor Left about the impasse the City has reached with some unions regarding new contracts. The City's fact-based review of the current situation appears below.
Current Status of Labor Negotiations
The City began negotiations with AEA, AMSP, CAMP, and MEF on March 15, 2023, over new agreements. Prior to the June 30, 2023, expiration of the contracts, the parties each issued their last, best, and final offer.
The City proposed its last, best, and final offer to each, including wage increases of 5% in the first year, 4% in the second year, and 3% in the third year in addition to four weeks of paid parental leave and other benefit enhancements.
AEA, AMSP, and CAMP’s last, best, and final offer includes wage increases of 7% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 5% in the third year – or 6% in the first year, 5% in the second year, and 5% in the third year and a conversion of 5% of pay that is non-pensionable to pensionable – in addition to eight weeks of paid parental leave, special salary studies, and other benefit enhancements.
MEF’s last, best, and final offer includes wage increases of 7% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 5% in the third year, conversion of 5% of pay that is non-pensionable to pensionable, retention pay, eight weeks of paid parental leave, and other benefit enhancements.
The bargaining units have rejected the City’s offers and have declared impasse, meaning that they believe the remaining differences are substantial enough that further meeting and conferring at this time would not be fruitful. The City and the bargaining units have begun impasse procedures, including scheduling mediation with mediators provided by the California State Mediation & Conciliation Service through the Public Employment Relations Board. Mediation is scheduled for July 12th with MEF and July 14th with AEA, AMSP, and CAMP.
To date, the City has not received any communication from AEA, AMSP, CAMP, or MEF that they no longer believe we are at an impasse or that they have any desire to resume bargaining.
Other Agreements
The City completed bargaining with ABMEI, POPRA, and SJPDA in the spring and also agreed to a contract extension with ALP. The contracts were ratified by the memberships, approved by Council, and the new agreements went into effect on July 1, 2023.
These agreements include general wage increases of 5% in the first year, 4% in the second year, and 3% in the third year and four weeks of paid parental leave amongst other enhancements.
Vacancy Information
Vacancy rates are not a direct correlation of pay. In fact, the City of San José has a lower vacancy rate than most other agencies, including some that have historically paid more. The City of San Jose’s current vacancy rate is 13.3% with 860 vacancies.
The City’s Offer
The City uses a standardized list of comparable jurisdictions to compare with when bargaining. This list has been negotiated with some bargaining units, including MEF. The unions are disseminating information that includes agencies that have not been used in the past and are not comparable to the City.
When comparing the City’s current general wage increase proposal to other comparable jurisdictions, the City’s is favorable, often better than or equal to other agencies.
IFPTE Only
MEF Only
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