This contract will be in effect until July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 at which time we will renegotiate new terms. 

1. RECOGNITION. The County recognizes United Domestic Workers of America as the exclusive representative of homecare workers employed by the IHSS Public Authority.
   
2. WAGES. The current wages of $10.00 per hour will increase as follows:
   
   

   $10.50 per hour	July 1, 2008
   $11.00 per hour	July 1, 2009

   
   

   These increases bring Santa Barbara providers to the maximum wages currently allowed under law and represent a 55% increase in wages since the first union contract in June 2004

   
   
3. HEALTH INSURANCE. Workers with paid hours of 70 or more per month will be entitled to participate in a county co-paid, comprehensive health insurance and dental plan. Over the three year contract an additional 107 eligible providers will be added to the health benefits.:
   
   

   This is a 32% increase in the health benefits cap

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4. REGISTRY PROVIDER REPLACEMENT STIPEND. Each time a registry provider agrees to accept a replacement assignment and reports to the client within 2 hours, the registry provider will receive a $25.00 stipend.
   
   The following provisions remain in effect from the original contract ratified in
   December 2005:
   
5. TRAINING. New homecare workers may be required to attend orientation training. The Union and the Public Authority may establish other training programs as necessary.
   
6. 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.
   
7. LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. Union workers and the Public Authority will meet regularly to solve worker problems and make improvements in client care and the in-home services program.
   
8. NO STRIKE/NO LOCKOUT. There will be no strikes and no lockouts during the life of the contract and during negotiations for its renewal.
   
9. PUBLIC AUTHORITY RIGHTS. The Public Authority is as an agency independent of the County of Santa Barbara . The Public Authority retains the right to determine the methods, means and personnel by which its operations are to be conducted.
   
10. AGENCY SHOP. This is a very important part of the Union Contract. Please read this information very carefully. Under an “Agency Shop”, all workers, with certain exceptions, must become members of the Union and pay Union dues. It takes a lot of work, a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of dedication on the part of Union members and Union staff to gain IHSS improvements and negotiate a Union contract with pay raises, health insurance and other benefits. The Bargaining Committee members believe that everybody who enjoys the pay raises, health insurance, dental insurance, and other benefits should share in the cost of supporting the union.

The law does allow certain exceptions. 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 and running for union office. Likewise, workers who do not support the Union 's political and organizing activities still must pay for the cost of union representation.

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.

 

al108/SB07-10

UNITED DOMESTIC WORKERS OF AMERICA Union State Headquarters: UDW State Headquarters Your Regional Office: UDW, Central Coast