Special Salary Adjustment (SSA) Application Deadline is July 8, 2019

MEA’s current MOU includes a 3.3% across-the-board salary increase in July 2019 that applies to all MEA-represented job classifications. The contract also includes a number of previously approved classification-specific Special Salary Adjustments (SSAs) that became effective in July 2018. In addition, several other SSAs approved by the Mayor and Council this Spring will take effect in July 2019 and April 2020.

MEA’s contract includes a process whereby additional SSAs that are recommended by the Civil Service Commission in FY 21 can also be considered for implementation. The Civil Service Commission just released the application dates for this year’s SSA process, and the schedule is compact beginning with proposals due to the Personnel Department at the end of July. This means that MEA needs SSA applications from members who wish to submit a request on behalf of their entire job classification and/or series by July 8th!

The criteria for SSAs is described in the City Charter, which provides that the Civil Service Commission shall issue a report each year “identifying classifications which merit special salary consideration because of recruitment and retention problems, significant changes in duties and responsibilities, inappropriate supervisory differential, or other special factors that the Commission deems appropriate.” For more detailed information about the factors that the Commission considers in this process, please see the attached Special Salary Adjustment request form.

The Charter also provides that only labor organizations or departments may bring forward requests for SSAs, new classes and title changes to the Civil Service Commission. Individual employee submissions to the Civil Service Commission are not allowed – employees must work through their labor organization on behalf of their entire classification and/or series.

If you believe that your classification has a meritorious case to be made to the Commission, here are your next steps:

Review the attached Salary Proposal Request Form and the detailed explanation of what needs to be included in each request. Also, see the attached Salary Review Schedule from the Civil Service Commission to learn more about the process.

Reach out to colleagues in your classification and form a team to help with the work that is involved. As the subject matter experts regarding your job, the efforts of you and your colleagues can make the difference between success and failure in this process.

Compile the needed information, complete the SSA request form and return it to MEA on or before Monday, July 8, 2019. Completed request packages should be emailed to Kelly Cruz at kcruz@sdmea.org. You can also call Kelly at 619-264-6632 x110 if you have any questions or need more information about the process.

MEA will review SSA request packages received by July 8, 2019 and assign a staff member to work with each group in advance of MEA’s submission to Personnel in late July. MEA will provide substantial assistance and guidance to each employee group, but the responsibility to take the lead in doing research, gathering information and writing the proposal specific to your classification is yours.

Please review the attached materials to consider moving forward with this process. Contact Kelly Cruz at MEA for assistance or more information. We look forward to working with you!

Civil Service Commission Salary Review Schedule
Civil Service Commission Memo
Salary Proposal Request Form
Request Form