SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) - One week after threatening a two-day strike, Sacramento County Superior Court's largest employee union on Tuesday ratified a mediator's bargaining agreement and avoided the planned work stoppage.
The court and the United Public Employees Local 1, which represents the court's reporters, clerks and court attendants, agreed to an employment contract with 4 percent raises in the first year and another 2 percent in the second year of the contract. Third year raises will be calculated on potential new baseline funding for the court in the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
This past week, the union scoffed at a mediator's proposal that would have given more than 200 employees 3 percent raises for the first two years of the contract and longevity pay.
After dismissing the contract, the union planned to strike Dec. 15 and 16.
The union claimed it bore the brunt of several years of court budget cuts caused by the recession and missed out on raises and additional benefits. It also accused the court of dedicating funds to its case-management projects rather than employee raises.
The new contract calls for a one-time bonus of $2,250, no changes to medical insurance plans and the possibility of increasing the number of employees eligible to work four 10-hour days per week. Union employees will also be able to cash out sick pay, and employees with more than 20 years of court service will receive an additional 1 percent raise.
With Tuesday's deal ratified, the court has now secured contracts with each of its employee unions.
The court's public information officer said the court was "pleased" to announce the deal and secure contracts with each of the "unions representing its dedicated and able staff."
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