Check your "Black Friday" paycheck today
Dear OCEA members,
Please review your paychecks today to confirm increases in your wages negotiated by your Bargaining Team and ratified by all three Court bargaining units. All workers will receive a 2.5% general wage increase and a $1,000 lump sum bonus (part-time workers receive a prorated lump sum amount).
Court workers hired before January 1, 2013 who pay the “reverse pickup” retirement contribution will see the first of two reductions over the course of the three-year contract. You should see an additional 1.291% added to your wage increase in the form of a reduced retirement contribution percentage as the Court will now pick up those costs. The Court will assume another 1% of your reverse pickup contribution in July 2021.
Important note: Because the lump sum bonus is included in your check today, Court workers may actually see a slight increase in the reverse pickup deduction dollar amount even with the 1.291% reduction. The reason is that your lump sum payment is considered “compensation earnable” by OCERS. This is a one-time only occurrence.
Those of you who have over twenty years of service began accruing your 5th week of vacation during the pay period reflected in your paycheck today.
We were able to reach this agreement with the Courts because we stood together shoulder-to-shoulder during negotiations.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Court Bargaining Team, who sacrificed countless hours on your behalf to achieve this contract. Also, a huge thank you to those of you who stepped up to support those efforts at the bargaining table by organizing your co-workers. If you want to get involved so you can make sure we continue to receive fair treatment at work, go to www.ocea.org/getinvolved and learn more about being a workplace leader for your union.
Thanks to each and every OCEA Court member for standing together year after year, providing exceptional service to the community under increasingly difficult circumstances. Orange County is a better place because of your efforts.
I hope this upcoming Holiday Season is safe and happy for you and your families.
In Solidarity,
Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager
Publication Date: November 27, 2019
