Board of Supervisors approves three-year contract with SEIU Local 1021, county’s largest union

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved a three-year contract agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 1021, which represents more than half of the county government’s workers.

The agreement, which will increase SEIU members’ pay and benefits over three years, will support the county’s employee retention and recruitment initiatives, help employees address inflationary pressures while meeting the county’s obligation to act as a responsible steward of public tax dollars.

“There is no public service without public servants,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “Their work is essential and makes our county better in so many ways. The pay increases in this contract will help offset the impacts of inflation that have eroded employee salaries over the last two years. They will also improve our ability to compete for top talent by matching increases in pay and benefits offered by other counties in our region.”

Key elements of the contract agreement include:

• A 13.5 percent cost-of-living pay increase over three years (5 percent in May 2023, 4.5 percent in March 2024 and 4 percent in March 2025).
• Immediate salary adjustments for two-thirds of employees whose pay is currently below market averages for their positions. The one-time pay increases, which range from 2 to 16 percent, would average 4 percent.
• Annual increases in county contributions to employee health care benefits over three years.
• An increase for bilingual pay to $1.50 per hour.

SEIU represents approximately 2,040 allocated positions and extra-help workers in almost every department in the county. They work in a variety of jobs, including clerical, maintenance, technical, professional and supervisory positions. SEIU Local 1021 ratified the contract in a vote held April 11-21. The agreement was supported by 92 percent of union members who participated in the election.

Meanwhile, the county also has reached tentative agreements with two other unions: the Sonoma County Prosecutors' Association and the Sonoma County Deputy Public Defender Attorneys' Association, which together represent approximately 74 positions. Members of both groups have ratified the agreements, which are scheduled to go to the Board of Supervisors on May 16.

The county continues to negotiate with eight other unions that represent 1,500 employees.

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Media Contact: 
Paul Gullixson, Communications Manager 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403