Health Workers Union Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 146 reached a tentative contract agreement Monday that includes pay and cost-of-living increases over five years, union and Sacramento County officials announced, the Sacramento Bee reports. The union represents about 700 county health care workers, including pharmacists, licensed vocational nurses, mental health workers and dieticians.
The AFSCME was the last county union to reach a tentative agreement, ending a two-week strike. Workers returned to their jobs on Tuesday.
Under the proposed contract, licensed vocational workers at county correctional facilities would receive pay increases of 12% in the first year of the contract and a 3% cost-of-living increase. Wage increases for other county workers vary, according to Judy Steinke, a business agent for the union.
Local 146 members currently pay 20% of their health insurance premiums, and health care contributions will not increase for union members until at least 2011, Steinke said (Fletcher/Kollars, Sacramento Bee, 9/19).