Proposal:
Approve Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of Public Sector Workers Regarding the Technical and Enforcement Unit
Synopsis:
AQMD management and representatives of the Federation of Public Sector Workers reached a tentative contract agreement that was subsequently ratified by members of the Technical and Enforcement Bargaining Unit. Changes include establishing new vehicle assignment criteria, a catastrophic leave fund, an administrative grievance process, a one-year probationary period for newly hired employees, and a ten-day-per-year limit on paid jury duty leave. Most other terms of the previous contract would be extended through June 30, 1996. This recommendation is to approve the ratified labor contract. This issue was finalized after the date of the Administrative Committee.
Committee:
This item arose after the February 16, 1996, Administrative Committee meeting.
Recommended Action:
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
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Background
On March 13, 1995, negotiations were initiated between AQMD and the Federation of Public Sector Workers (Federation), representing the Technical and Enforcement and Office Clerical and Maintenance Units, to bargain a successor agreement to the two parties' July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). After seventeen bargaining sessions over an eight-month period failed to produce agreement, the two sides jointly declared negotiations to be at impasse. As required under provisions of AQMD's Employee Relations Resolution, a mediator from the California Mediation and Conciliation Service was called in to assist with the process. During the course of mediation, a petition, signed by sixty-six percent of Office Clerical and Maintenance Unit employees, was submitted by the California Teamsters Public, Professional and Medical Employees Union Local 911 to decertify the Federation as the Unit's exclusive representative. Legal Counsel advised negotiations with that Unit could not proceed. Mediation continued, however, with the Technical and Enforcement Unit, and a tentative agreement was reached, which was later ratified by the membership of the Unit.
Among the terms of this ratified agreement, are new vehicle assignment criteria aimed at assuring vehicles are more efficiently used for AQMD business. In implementing these more restrictive criteria, management agreed to provide those who lose vehicles a one-time transitional allowance of $150 per month to a maximum of $900. Other contract provisions include establishment of a catastrophic leave fund, funded by deposit of one-half of employees' earned vacation leave that would otherwise be forfeited; an administratively more efficient grievance process; a 10-day limit on paid jury duty leave; an option for employees to purchase, at their expense, up to forty hours of additional vacation annually, to be used with management approval; a one-year probationary period for all newly hired employees; agreement to conduct a classification study of positions in the inspector class series; changes relating to employee parking and rideshare policy provisions; changes to enhance administrative efficiency in tracking sick leave usage; and changes that keep performance rating as a factor in determining layoffs and reductions in classification, but restrict the time period for receipt of ratings and add options for reducing to lower classifications. Complete texts of contract changes are included in the attachments to this letter. The contract extends all other provisions of the earlier MOU through June 30, 1996.
Resource Impacts
It is anticipated the costs associated with this labor contract, almost exclusively those associated with the one-time transition allowance for those required to give up vehicles under the stricter assignment criteria, will be balanced out by budgetary savings in fleet maintenance and for paid jury duty leaves, increases in administrative efficiencies, and other, less tangible benefits associated with this contract.
Attachments
A. Amendments to Administrative CodeB. Amendments to Personnel Rules
C. Amendments to Memorandum of Understanding Between South Coast Air
Quality Management District and the Federation of Public Sector
Workers Regarding the Technical and Enforcement Unit
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