GOOD NEWS – You Are Getting A Well-Earned Pay Raise: MEA Secures 10% Special Salary Adjustment for Paralegals

In response to MEA’s advocacy and Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s recommendation, the San Diego City Council has voted to approve a 10% Special Salary Adjustment (SSA) for the Paralegal Series (Paralegal, Principal Paralegal and Senior Paralegal).  This SSA will be in addition to the 3.3% general salary increase called for under MEA’s MOU for this fiscal year.

The 3.3% general salary increase will become effective during the first full pay period after July 1, 2019, and the additional 10% special salary increase will become effective during the first full pay period after April 1, 2020.

These salary increases are also “pensionable” meaning that (1) they count toward increasing the future lifetime pension allowances for employees in the SDCERS defined benefit pension plan who are not yet in DROP; and (2) they count toward increasing the City’s contribution to the 401(k)-style retirement benefit for those hired after July 19, 2012 under “Prop B.”

This 10% SSA is the product of a 2-year advocacy campaign under MEA’s MOU Article 21. MEA’s entire leadership team, its staff and legal counsel have all been single-minded in their focus to get SSAs like this one recommended by the Civil Service Commission (Step 1) and then implemented by action of the Mayor and City Council (Step 2).

Many individual Paralegals – your colleagues – deserve thanks for their tireless work with MEA to compile the data and demonstrate the merits of this SSA before the Civil Service Commission. City Attorney Department management, including City Attorney Mara Elliott, were also strong supporters of this SSA which made a meaningful difference in this process. Getting a recommendation from the Commission was important but only half the battle because the Commission has no legislative authority to raise salaries or spend money.

Overcoming resistance fueled by a tight budget and competing demands for the City’s limited resources, it took additional concerted efforts to persuade the Mayor and City Council to support the implementation of this SSA in the coming fiscal year. MEA recognizes and appreciates the leadership it took for the Mayor to recommend, and the City Council to approve, this critical Special Salary Adjustment for Paralegals!

 If you have any questions, please contact MEA at 619-264-6632 or email us at info@sdmea.org.