BREAKING NEWS: MEA AND CITY REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR NEW 3-YEAR CONTRACT WITH A 21% GENERAL SALARY INCREASE!

MEA’s Negotiating Team has reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) with the City on a new 3-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin on July 1, 2023 and end on June 30, 2026.

On Mayor Todd Gloria’s recommendation, the City Council approved this TA in a closed session meeting today and, if MEA’s membership votes to ratify it next week, these new contract terms will be confirmed in an open session meeting of the City Council and then take effect on July 1, 2023.

Here are the highlights of the Tentative Agreement:

A 21% general salary increase implemented on the following schedule:

Year 1 (FY 2024) – 10%

July 1, 2023: 5%

January 1, 2024: 5%

Year 2 (FY 2025) – 6%

July 1, 2024: 4%

January 1, 2025: 2%

Year 3 (FY 2026) – 5%

July 1, 2025: 5%

Implementation of these general salary increases is “front-loaded” to deliver MEA-represented employees a 14% pay raise in the first “one year and one day” of the contract, and all 21% of the pay raise in the first “two years and one day”! 

Since each incremental pay raise compounds when implemented, the effective impact of this series of increases is a 22.8% pay increase for MEA-represented employees by July 1, 2025.  Any individual step increases, promotions, special salary adjustments or other increases would be in addition to this general salary increase.

Flexible Benefit Plan increases:

MEA-represented employees who cover dependents will receive Flex credit increases in each year of the TA:

Tier                              Current               2024                2025                2026

EE+Children               $14,000           $15,000           $15,750           $16,500

EE+Spouse/DP           $16,000           $17,000           $17,850           $18,700

EE+Family                  $22,000           $23,000           $23,500           $24,000

Employees hired on or after July 1, 2020 who select employee-only coverage will also receive Flex credit increases of $400 in each year of the contract, bringing the current credit level of $7,600 up to $8,800 by 2026.

In addition to the 21% general salary increase, certain job classifications will receive a Special Salary Adjustment (SSA), a new or increased Voluntary Certification Pay, or new Special Assignment Pay.  If your job classification is slated to receive an SSA, you will receive a separate E-blast message from MEA.

Other important provisions negotiated in this TA:

• Continuation of 24 hours of discretionary leave (DL) in each year of the three-year contract
• New City-paid holiday: Juneteenth
• Paid Parental Leave doubled to 320 hours and elimination of 30-day LTD waiting period for pre- and post-pregnancy related disability
• Free transit pass for employees (MTS Universal “U Pass”)
• Bilingual Pay doubled to $1.40/hour
• “D” Mileage Increases
• New 10% Special Assignment Pay for Library Assistants and Librarians assigned to work on Sundays
• New 10% Mt. Hope Cemetery Special Assignment Pay
• New Teletype Assignment Pay – 5%
• Increases and new job classifications eligible for various PUD Certification Pays
• New Notary Pay for employees designated to provide City-related notary services – 5%
• Numerous other contract provisions that benefit MEA-represented employees

MEA’s entire leadership team, staff and legal counsel have all been single-minded in waging a multi-year advocacy campaign to achieve more competitive pay and benefits for MEA-represented employees.  These pay increases are the welcome and well-deserved result of MEA’s relentless efforts.  MEA appreciates the leadership of Mayor Todd Gloria and the entire City Council for their action to improve your compensation as part of their commitment to the City’s residents to deliver quality services.

The achievements in this new Tentative Agreement were secured through the efforts of your elected MEA Negotiating Team, including Lead Negotiator Ann Smith, General Manager Michael Zucchet, immediate past President Greg Woods, and newly installed President Michele Chicarelli – all of whom strongly recommend a “YES” vote when its terms are before the membership for ratification next week.

Please be on the lookout for details coming soon regarding the in-person ratification vote at various locations on May 2.  The vote will be an “up” or “down” on the terms as a whole and only MEA members are eligible to vote.

Please don’t hesitate to call (619-264-6632) or e-mail (info@sdmea.org) MEA with feedback, questions or if you need assistance on any issue.

Message from MEA President Michele Chicarelli:

I’m writing with great pride in our Union as we have reached a historic 3-year tentative agreement.  Kudos to all parties involved in the negotiations.  Great effort went into this very positive outcome for the future of City employees.

As your new President, I’m looking forward to continuing to have a positive working relationship with you, City representatives, and the Mayor and City Council.

Congratulations on this well-earned accomplishment!

Yours Truly,

Michele Chicarelli