Local 620 is happy to announce that negotiations for 2017 / 2018 equity adjustments are complete per our MOU. Effective the 1^st pay period in July, 71 classifications will receive equity adjustments in addition to the 2.50% COLA that all members will receive. The 29 classifications furthest out of market will receive a 3.25% adjustment, which will affect 156 members and 42 additional classifications will receive a 2.0% adjustment, which will affect 260 members, for a total of 416 Local620 members receiving equity adjustments. The classifications receiving equity adjustments are:

Local 620 would like to thank our sub-committee of Matt Smith, Scott Dunlap and Staff person Sam Ramirez for their work at researching Local 620’s represented classifications which required several months of work. In addition, we would like to thank the rest of the Bargaining Team consisting of Billy Mann, Sara Scofield, Bill Haro, Mindi Boulet, Sylvia Lazos, Margo Wagner and Staff Annette Nino and Bruce Corsaw for proposing and receiving a separate pool of funds to provide for equity adjustments and for the final negotiations on distribution of equity adjustments.

For over 30 years Local 620 has struggled to keep our represented members as close to market value as possible as outlined in our MOU using the surveying agencies agreed upon. Over the years this process has created controversy because of some classifications receiving adjustments and other classifications not receiving adjustments. Local 620 leadership and staff work hard to provide adjustments to as many of our members as possible given the resources available and the extent that classifications are out of market, as well as recruitment, retention and the willingness of the employer to agree on the classifications receiving equity adjustments. All of these factors are reviewed prior to negotiations and are used in determining which classifications we have the ability to provide adjustments to and which ones will need to wait for the next round. In a perfect world the County would maintain all of their staff at market value, but the County of Santa Barbara is either unable or unwilling to make this a priority.

We sincerely hope that members are pleased that their coworkers will receive adjustments and be patient for their turn to move closer to market value as funds and contract provisions become available. It does help the process when every member takes the effort to monitor their market value salary as outlined in their MOU and if you have questions please contact your Local 620 Field Representative.

Local 620 is dedicated to providing meaningful, quality service to our members. Salary markets are constantly changing which requires members and staff to monitor salary levels of surveying agencies as specified in our MOU or in accordance with past practice. We look forward to interaction with members both in a group setting and one on one. We value your constructive input, suggestions and we encourage you to participate in your Union.

Bruce Corsaw, Executive Director