Trinity Units Negotiate Contract Extension

Thursday, April 03, 2008

The Trinity County Miscellaneous Peace Officer bargaining unit and the Trinity County Deputy Sheriffs Association bargaining unit have reached an agreement with the County to extend their respective labor agreements for three years in return for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA’s) and a revised retiree medical formula.

The deal allows the County to delay its retiree medical contribution so that an employee must work 10 years with the County before becoming eligible for the County’s retiree medical contribution, which is then gradually increased until the full contribution is reached at 20 years of County service.  The new formula applies to employees hired after January 1, 2008 and replaces the current formula whereby an employee receives the full County retiree medical contribution regardless of length of service with the County.  For example, under the grandfathered system that will now slowly be replaced, an employee who worked 20 years in Shasta County can take a job at Trinity County, work 6 months and then take a PERS retirement with Trinity County responsible for paying its full retiree medical contribution.

In return. the Units received a 2% COLA in January 2009, 2% in January 2010 and 4% in January 2011.

POA President Hal Ridelhuber and DSA President Eric Palmer are to be congratulated on their foresight in negotiating an agreement that provides COLA’s and benefit guarantees for an additional 3 years during this time of economic uncertainty.  Good work!