Glen-Colusa Irrigation District Employees Association Ratifies New One-Year Contract

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

The GCIDEA concluded negotiations with the Irrigation District by ratifying a one year contract that was significant in the respect that no concessions were agreed to and modest gains allow the employees to retain their compensation package through these difficult economic times.

Employees will receive a 1.5% COLA in addition to the District continuing to pick up insurance increases per a cost sharing formula that has been in effect for several years.

Unlike most of UPEC’s other 60-plus contracts, this employer is not dependent upon sales and/or property tax for revenue but is in the unique situation of receiving income based on the sale of irrigation water.  This makes income for the District more stable and secure than cities or counties, but nonetheless, the District Board is careful about imposing price increases on the District’s agricultural customers and every increase arrived at in negotiations must be justifiable to the local water users.

UPEC staff would like to thank GCIDEA President Chris Cesa for his assistance in guiding the Association through a frustrating negotiation process.