First Bargaining Session

On Tuesday, 2/22/22, the MCCDA bargaining team met with the county for the first bargaining session. Typically, not much is accomplished at the first session, as each side spends time introducing themselves and going over negotiation ground rules. However, the MCCDA team already has over three dozen proposals ready and presented some to the county side. The team will be maintaining three-ring binders at MCDC, MCIJ and the courthouse in which we will post the proposals after they are introduced into bargaining. The binders will be there in the next day or so and held in each facility's lunchroom; they will allow members to see what, exactly, we are asking for. Here are some highlights of today's proposals:

• Wage increases of 9% plus a COLA in July 2022, and then 2% each year in 2023, 2024, and 2025, as well as a COLA in 2023 and 2024

• In July 2022, a Step 7 will be added to the pay scale that is 5% higher than Step 6; everyone on Step 6 will be moved to Step 7.

• Limit the contract to three years

• Additional longevity-pay steps of 2.5% each at 10, 15, and 25-years

• Makeup contributions into members' IAPs

• A 5% "essential worker" premium for the time members work during a countywide closure when non-essential workers are allowed to work from home

• A 5% incentive for workers on the westside of the river to compensate for parking, vehicle break-ins, etc.

• Education incentives for members with associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees

• A 1.5% incentive for workers who are LEDs qualified

As I said, the details of each proposal will be in the binders at each facility. The team has worked very hard in researching comparative contracts and coming up with proposals. We also relied heavily on the membership's input as we devised them. Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 15, but we are trying to find a time that the county can meet with us sooner. Please let any team member know if you have questions.

Update: I corrected the initial bullet point to note that we are seeking a COLA in 2022, 2023 and 2024, but not 2025.