Santa Clara County Supervisors approve union contract Santa Clara County Supervisors approve union contract (March 26, 2004)

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a contract extension agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 715, according to a union spokesman.

SEIU Local 715 represents about 8,000 county employees who approved the agreement, reached late last month, by a 90 percent margin last week, spokesman Andrew Hagelshaw said.

Union officials say the contract will save jobs and services in light of Santa Clara County's projected $200 million deficit. Under the terms of the agreement, county workers represented by SEIU Local 715 would not receive a cost of living wage increase in 2004, but would receive a 3 percent increase in 2005.

In addition, benefit plans would be protected for two years and all SEIU workers over the age of 50 with at least five years of service would be eligible for early retirement. County workers are now looking to the Board of Supervisors to take similar steps to protect services, union officials say.

"By forgoing a (cost of living) increase for the first year and encouraging early retirement, we will save the county millions," noted Ted Scheel, a union member and physical therapist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

"Now its time for the board to do its part by reducing management structure, freezing capital projects, halting wasteful contracting and using resources to keep valuable services going.''

-- Bay City News

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