July 14, 2020 — After asserting our rights to negotiate and advising the Department that its actions last week had violated the County’s Employee Relations Ordinance in a number of ways, PPOA and the Department met again yesterday to exchange information and continue the meet and confer process as demanded. Today, as a result of PPOA’s effort to negotiate in good faith and protect our members, we can report an agreement with the Department was reached regarding the TORA process scheduled for tomorrow, July 15, 2020.
PPOA’s early collaboration with ALADS in the first meet and confer, helped the Department identify other options for budget savings which reduced the impact on PPOA members. From the point when the meet and confer process began in June, through the date of the agreement, the number of impacted PPOA members was reduced from approximately 100 down to 13.
The Department’s budget woes are expected to persist as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to decimate the economy. These difficulties will more than likely result in an increase in CARP responsibilities, return of loan items to their “home” assignments, etc. While PPOA members will be affected by these potential burdens, these options to address the budget crisis are well within the management rights of the Department. PPOA will of course continue to monitor all changes in working conditions and make every effort to ensure fair implementation.
The PPOA committee members, assigned to and volunteering for this TORA negotiation process, should be commended for their numerous hours of dedication and time away from family, including many evenings and a full day this last Sunday. This agreement represents a result of compromise on all sides to reduce the amount of impact to PPOA members and reflects PPOA’s unwavering commitment to protect the labor rights of the PPOA membership