Contract Bargaining Update: CAPE Bargaining Teams Extend Unit Contracts; Prioritize Fringe Benefits

The contracts that control pay and working conditions for all six of the Los Angeles County bargaining units represented by CAPE are set to expire on September 30, 2012. After reviewing all of the options and considering numerous factors, the CAPE bargaining team members determined the best path ahead is to extend the current Unit contract terms for one additional year.

As reported in prior membership communications, the Bargaining Team’s first and highest priority is to protect the current pay, benefits and retirement calculations for all CAPE-represented County workers. Given the current economic conditions, the prospect of significant problems with the state budget, the uncertainty of passage of the Governor’s upcoming ballot measure, the prevailing attitudes toward public employees, and other factors, the teams made the determination that a one-year extension of the Unit contracts was in the best interests of CAPE members.

Several County employee associations have already crossed that threshold. The unions representing the County’s public safety employees — ALADS, PPOA, L.A. Co. Firefighters Loc. 1014 and the LA Co. Probation Officers Association — all had contracts that expired earlier this year. All of those groups reached agreements to extend their current Unit contract terms by one year.

Prior to their last meeting, the CAPE Bargaining Team members were taking input from members at work locations around the County. Members’ comments and suggestions played a primary part in helping the teams make a decision to extend the current Unit contract terms.

CAPE representatives are working with County officials to submit the 1-year contract extension to the Board of Supervisors for approval. The process should be concluded in July.

Fringe Benefit Contract expires September 30: With the Unit contracts extended for a year, the bargaining teams’ focus turns to the Fringe Benefit contract, which includes vitally important health and retirement benefits.

Last year’s fringe contract agreement included an increased contribution by the County to help offset increases in healthcare premiums. The County’s cost was partially offset by a temporary reduction of 2% in the County’s matching contribution to the Horizons Deferred Compensation program.

CAPE representatives negotiate the fringe benefit contract terms in concert with the other County unions affiliated with the County Coalition of Unions — CCU. With healthcare costs increasing again, CAPE representatives have indicated they will once again be looking to make sure members’ out-of-pocket cost increases are mitigated as much as possible.

CAPE Counsel Blaine Meek discusses the 2012 negotiations environment with members at DPW Headquarters on May 2nd.