 October, 2005
After five months of negotiations for our historic second contract
with the Riverside County Public Authority, your bargaining team,
comprised of home care workers, has negotiated the following
NEW WAGE INCREASES AND BENEFITS. This contract was overwhelmingly
ratified (approved) by the union members of the Riverside County
bargaining unit.
Following is a summary of the new proposed contract. The contract
will be in effect from September 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007, at
which time
we will renegotiate new terms.
- RECOGNITION.
The County recognizes United Domestic Workers of America as the exclusive representative
of home care workers employed by the IHSS Public Authority.
- WAGES. The wages for home care workers in Riverside
County will
increase as follows:
October
1, 2005: 25 cents per hour to $8.75 per
hour
July 1, 2006: 25 cents per hour to $9.00 per
hour
- HEALTH INSURANCE. There will be no increase in your contribution for health insurance during the life of this
contract. This is extremely beneficial to you as normal premiums
increases between 15 to 25% per year is normal. This contract
will save you between $52 to $86 per year, every year. NO premium
increases will be passed on to you.
- Workers
with authorized hours of 80 or more per month will be entitled
to participate in a county-paid, comprehensive health insurance
plan.
- The County will provide up to $1.5 million dollars per
year under this contract for health insurance.
- DENTAL AND VISION. The Public Authority and UDW have
agreed to form a committee and meet within 60 days of this agreement
to study the possibility of obtaining dental and vision plans
for home care workers.
The remaining provision of the first contract, ratified in
2003, shall remain in effect, including the following terms:
- TRAINING. New home care workers may be required to attend
orientation training. The Union and the Public Authority may
establish other training programs as necessary.
- GRIEVANCE.
The procedure for resolving complaints of workers who believe the Public Authority
has violated the Union contract includes a series of steps ending with arbitration.
- LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Union workers and the Public
Authority will meet regularly to solve problems and make improvements
in the program.
- NO STRIKE/NO LOCKOUT. There will be no strikes and no
lockouts during the life of the contract and during negotiations
for its renewal.
- PUBLIC AUTHORITY RIGHTS. The Public Authority is as
an agency independent of the County of Riverside. The Public
Authority retains the right to determine the methods, means and
personnel by which its operations are to be conducted.
- AGENCY SHOP. This provision was approved by the workers
when the contract was ratified. Under an "Agency Shop",
all workers, with certain exceptions, must become members of
the Union and pay Union dues/fees. It takes a lot of work,
a lot of resources, a lot of time and a lot of dedication on
the part of Union members and staff to gain IHSS improvements
and negotiate a Union contract with pay raises, health insurance
and other benefits. The Bargaining Council believes that
everybody who enjoys the pay raises, health insurance, and
other benefits made available through this contract should
share in the cost of supporting the union that made it possible.
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UDW members believe it is not fair
for anyone to get a free ride at the expense of others
and that no one should be able to enjoy the benefits
of union representation, union contract negotiations,
union wages and union benefits without paying their
fair share.
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Workers who choose not to become union members still must pay
a portion of the dues and fees for the cost of representation
but may not participate in the running of the Union, including
voting on union contracts. Likewise, workers who do not support
the Union's political and organizing activities, must also pay
their "fair share" of the Union's expenses in representing them.
AL108/Riv(2)1005
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