In record numbers, Riverside County members voted to elect two Bargaining Teams that will have the opportunity to negotiate for contract improvements on two important topics – retiree medical benefits and job parity fairness.
Votes were tallied by SEIU 721 members on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Click below to view a photo gallery of the vote count.
Congratulations to the newly elected 2014 Riverside County Bargaining Team members!
Election Results
Job Parity Bargaining Team
Professional Unit (SE2)
• Edward Steven Araiza – SSW II
• Sue Brown – Medical SW II
• Steven Prado – SSW II
• Barry Tantlinger – Contracts & Grants Specialist III
Registered Nurse Unit (SE8)
• Nancy Ferrell – RN V
• John Keller – RN IV
Para-Professional Unit (SE9)
• Camille P. Dudek – Victim Services Advocate II
• Roger Nunes – Social Services Assistant
• Donnelly Valdez – Respiratory Care Practitioner II
Supervisory Unit (SES)
• Ben Brandon – CSS Supv II
• Paul Gaines – CSS Supv II
• Corinna Sala – Victim Service Supv
Waste Unit (SW2)
• Arthur Fuentes – Sr. Eng. Tech
Medical Retiree Benefits Bargaining Team
Professional Unit (SE2)
• Steven Prado – SSW II
• Keith Price – CSSW V
• Barry Tantlinger – Contracts & Grants Specialist III
• Sheila Thue-Billeb – Accountant II
Registered Nurse Unit (SE8)
• Melita Charles-Singh – RN III
• Dean T. Vergara – RN III
Para-Professional Unit (SE9)
• Alma Cruz – LVN
• Barbara Dreis – Victim Services Advocate II
• Donnelly Valdez – Respiratory Care Practitioner II
Supervisory Unit (SES)
• Debbie Anderson – Victim Service Supv
• Tracy Howard – Hospital Admissions Supv
• Deborah Kelly – Mental Health Service Supv A
Waste Unit (SW2)
• Arthur Fuentes – Sr. Eng. Tech
Click here to download an updated list of the teams.
Next Steps
In the next few weeks, the two Bargaining Teams will come together and start training in preparation of negotiations. Soon after you will have the opportunity to fill out a survey to help identify bargaining priorities. If you are interested in being a Contract Action Team member please contact a bargaining team member, your worksite organizer or the Member Connection (877) 721-4YOU (4968).
Before negotiating with the County, please review the current benefit packages that LIUNA, Management Confidential, RSA, and DDAs have. At a minimum, SEIU should seek a similar benefit package structure:
1) Combine sick and vacation time to administration time.
2) SEIU members should be able to cash out 20 to 40 hours of leave time annually or convert these hours to a medical savings account to offset health care costs and premiums.
3) The County should provide longevity rewards to employees as follows:
a) 10 Years of Service = Credit 80 hours of vacation time or admin time
b) 15 Years of Service = Credit 100 hours of vacation time or admin time
c) 20 Years of Service = Credit 120 hours of vacation time or admin time
d) 25 Years of Service = Credit 140 hours of vacation time or admin time
e) 30 Years of Service = Credit 160 hours of vacation time or admin time
4) SEIU employees with advanced degrees (i.e. Masters, Doctorate) should be given a salary increase of 2.71% to give incentives for a stronger workforce.
5) COLA at current rate of inflation