Fringe Benefits Negotiations Update: County Refuses to Appropriately Acknowledge Front Line Sacrifices of Dedicated Workforce
7/8/21 — As PPOA members have been aware, contract negotiations began last month on a successor to the Fringe Benefit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU.) The fringe benefit contract expired on June 30, 2021 and PPOA, along with fellow members of the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), has been working earnestly to secure a new contract for members.
We are dismayed to report that, last night, the County refused to appropriately recognize employees’ front line sacrifices during the pandemic. Instead, County negotiators proposed that we forgo our contractual right to protect health coverage for County employees who participate in the Kaiser and Cigna medical plans in exchange for as little as 21¢/hour in Hazard Bonus, when in Feb. 2021 the Board of Supervisors approved $5/hour ‘hero pay’ for grocery workers.
“Despite the County’s disappointing proposals, PPOA and the CCU will make every effort to ensure the sacrifices of County employees will be acknowledged fairly and respectfully,” said PPOA President Tab Rhodes. “The dedication of the men and women serving the County during the pandemic has been nothing short of heroic and it’s time for the County to recognize that.”
President Rhodes, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and Executive Board Member Tony Coleman have all been representing PPOA during Fringe Benefits contract negotiations.