Laguna Niguel City Council adopts Side Letter

Dear OCEA member,

The votes have been tallied and your voice has been heard. The Side Letter containing urgent measures to deal with the COVID-19 economic fallout has been approved by workers and adopted by the City Council on June 16, 2020.

We know these are difficult and challenging times requiring sacrifices from management and public workers across California. Your Bargaining Team worked with the City to come up with NO LAYOFF/NO FURLOUGH protection that provides you and your family safety, stability, and security in the coming year. I want to thank Bargaining Team members for their time, effort, and commitment to your job security as we get through this turbulent period together.

Here is a summary of the provisions:

• There will be NO LAYOFFS AND NO FURLOUGHS during the period covered by the Side Letter (from now through July 1, 2021);
• The effective date of the wage increase scheduled for Jan. 1, 2021 will be postponed to July 1, 2021;
• The City agrees to reopen discussions regarding restoration of any concessions in the event the City receives any additional federal, state, or local funds; and
• There will be a new performance review system put in place in October 2020 which will include a worker feedback component.

Click here to read the Side Letter for the Middle Management, Supervisory and Professional Unit and use this link to read the Maintenance, Clerical and Technical Unit Side Letter. 

Your Bargaining Team made protecting jobs the focus of its negotiating strategy. Ultimately, the parties were able to reach a tentative agreement on a Side Letter to the MOU. 

Thank you for participating in this important process. Protecting the jobs working families depend on is the priority of every union and we were able to do that by standing firm and standing together. 

In Solidarity,

Saliem Aregaye
Lead Negotiator

Publication Date: June 22, 2020