SEIU 721 City of Beaumont members in the General Unit and Public Safety Support Services Unit have both unanimously ratified new two-year agreements.
Management originally wanted the bargaining teams to simply roll over their existing contracts with no new benefits or wage increases. However, the teams stood united under the guidance of their chief negotiator and were able to not only maintain important workers’ benefits, such as the employer paying for all increases in healthcare premiums through the life of the contract, but to also add new premium pay incentives and expand their union rights.
It’s refreshing to work with an employer who truly values how hard our members work every day to ensure quality public services are provided to their community and is willing to work with us to find a fair way to offer quality benefits and compensation to our working families.
– Wendy Thomas, SEIU 721 Chief Negotiator
Contract Highlights
• Maintains 100% Employer Paid Medical Benefits
• Continues all merit-based salary increases
• Adds a 2.5% Salary Step in Jan. 2015 (subject to defined economic considerations)
• Doubles Training Pay
• Adds P.O.S.T certificate pay for Police Dispatchers, from 2.5% to 5% depending on level of state certification
• Adds Education and Certification Incentive Pay, from 2.5% to 5% depending on college degree or specialized certification
• Creates opportunity for alternate work schedules for Police Dispatchers
• Creates quarterly Labor-Management Committee meetings
• Establishes Union Steward Program
• Provides paid union release time for member leaders
• Creates process to develop career ladders
City of Beaumont members now have an opportunity to meet with their worksite organizer, Christopher Stout, on the third Wednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in conference room #4 at the Beaumont Civic Center. Chris can be contacted at (760) 408-5033, christopher.stout@seiu721.org, or you can contact the 721 Member Connection at (877) 721-4YOU.