Meet and Confer News 22 May

Meet and Confer News 22 May

'Support the Employees Who Provide the Services'
So said Susan King, SEIU Pima Chapter Vice President, speaking before the Board of Supervisors on the proposed county budget. The budget will not be final until June 17th. Joined by Pima Chapter Vice President Carlos Ochoa, Susan told the board that progress is being made in our Meet and Confer discussions with county management.

Susan King BOS Meeting

“We welcome the progress we are making on many important policy changes, from bereavement leave to downtown parking,” she said. Other issues, including Sick Leave/Vacation accrual fairness for employees who work less than 80 hours a pay period and the need for a bilingual pay differential, also are well-advanced. But Susan reminded the board that other, fundamental issues still need to be addressed.

“We’re falling behind,” she said. “Because, when you factor in the cost of living, the increased costs of our health insurance and our wage increases over the past five years, we’re actually earning less now than in 2002.

“We urge you, members of the Board of Supervisors, to join us in a commitment to protecting the vital services of Pima County – to put County workers in this budget not as an afterthought but as the vital resource that we are.”

Susan says that she, and the other members of our Meet and Confer bargaining team, will continue to make the case for all county employees in upcoming meetings as passionately as she did before the board.

All members are invited to attend our next two M&C sessions on Thursday, May 29th and Thursday, June 12th - both at the County Administration Building’s sixth floor conference room (130 W. Congress).