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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 01011981 - 1981-1063 IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA 1981-1983 Compensation for Employees in Units Represented by Social Services RESOLUTION NO. 81/1064 Union, Local 535 The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors RESOLVES THAT: 1. On September 15, 1981, the Employee Relations Officer submitted the Memorandum of Understanding dated September 14, 1981, entered into with Social Services Union, Local 535 and the following units represented by the Union: Social Services Unit Community Services Unit 2. This Board having thoroughly considered said Memorandum of Understanding, the same is approved. 3. Salaries and Terms and Conditions of Employment, Social Services Union, Local 535. The Memorandum of Understanding with Social Services Union, Local 535 is attached hereto, marked Exhibit A; and Section Numbers 1 through 52 inclusive and Attachments A and B are incorporated herlin as if set forth in full and made applicable to the employees in the above-nAmed units. 4. If an Ordinance(s) is required to implement any of the foregoing provisions, the Board of Supervisors shall inact said Ordinance(s). 5. This Resolution is effective as of July 1, 1981. PASSED ON September 15, 1981, unanimously by the Supervisors present. (Supervisor Fanden absent) CERTIFIED COPY Y certify that this Is a full, true & correct COPY Of tate original document which is on file in my office. and that it was Passed & adoptad by the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa Coun;.v. Cazifornla, on the date shown. ATTEST: J. R. CLISON, County Clerk&ex-officio Clerk of said Board of 9unorvlsors, by Deputy Clerk. Orig: Director of Personnel Employee Relations Officer cc: County Administrator County Counsel Auditor-Controller Social Services Union, Local 535 RESOLUTION NO. 81/1064 , r MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND SOCIAL SERVICES UNION, LOCAL 535 1981 -- 1953 Memorandum of Understanding Between Contra Costa County and Social Services Union, Local 535 1981 - 1983 TABLE OF CONTENTS Sectior Page Definitions 1, 2, 3 1 Union Recognition 3 2 Union Security 3 3 No Discrimination 7 4 Shop Stewards & Official Representatives 6 5 Salaries 7 6 Days & Hours of Work 12 7 Overtime & Compensatory Time 12-14 8 Call-Back Time 14 9 On-Call Duty 15 10 Shift Differential 15 11 Union Notification of Layoff 15 12 Holidays 16 13 Vacation Leave 17 14 Sick Leave 18-24 15 Leave of Absence 24 16 Jury & Witness Duty 26 17 Health, Welfare, Life & Dental Care 27 18 Probationary Period 29 19 Promotion 31 € 20 Transfer 32 21 Resignations 32 22 Dismissals, Suspensions & Demotions 34 23 Grievance Procedure 36 24 Bilingual Pay 39 25 Retirement Contribution 39 26 Training Reimbursement 39 27 Mileage 39 28 Childrens' Protective Services Respite Leave Without Pay 40 29 Mental Health Screening Differential 40 30 Convertorship Differential 40 Table of Contents Page two Section Page-, 31 Part-Time Differential 40 32 Severance Pay 40 33 Notice of New Employees 41 34 Personnel Actions 42 35 Safety Programs 43 36 Flexible Staffing 43 37 Career Ladder 44 38 Workload Distribution 44 39 Reassignment 45 40 Staggered Work Schedule 46 41 Reimbursement for Meals Expenses 48 42 Modification and Decertification 49 43 Length of Service Definition 49 44 Service Awards 50 45 Permanent Part-Time Employee Benefits 50 46 Permanent Intermittent Employee Benefits 50 47 Permanent Intermittent Health Plan 50 48 Provisional Employee Benefits 50 49 Unfair Labor Practice 50 50 Adoption 5l 51 Scope of Agreement & Separability of Provision 51 52 Past Practices & Existing Memoranda of Understanding 52 Attachment A 53 Attachment B 54--55 001/!v Memorandum of Understanding Between Contra Costa County And Social Services Union, Local 535 This Memorandum of understanding is entered into pursuant to the authority contained in Division 34 of the Centra Costa County Ordinance Code and has been ,jointly prepared by the parties. The Employee Relations Officer (County Administrator) is the representative of Contra Costa County in employer-employee relations matters as provided in Ordinance Code Section 34-8.012. The parties have met and conferred in good faith regarding wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment for the employees in units in which the Union is the recognized representative, have freely exchanged information, opinions and proposals and have endeavored to reach agreement on all matters relating to the employment conditions and employer-employee relations covering such employees. This Memorandum of understanding shall be presented to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors as the joint recommendations of the undersigned for salary and employee benefit adjustments for the period commencing July 1, 1981 and ending June 30, 1983. Special provisions and restrictions pertaining to Project employees covered by this Memorandum of Understanding are contained in Attachment A which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Definitions: A. "Appointing Authority" means Department Head unless otherwise provided by statute or ordinance. B. "Class" means a group of positions sufficiently similar with respect to the duties and responsibilities that similar selection procedures and qualifications may apply and that the same descriptive title may be used to designate each position allocated to the group. C. "Class Title" means the designation given to a class, to each position allocated to the class, and to the employees allocated to the class. D. "Count " means Contra Costa County. E. "Demotion" means the change of a permanent employee to another position in a class allocated to a salary range for which the top step is lower than the top step of the class which the employee formerly occupied except as provided for under "Transfer" or as otherwise provided for in this Memorandum of understanding, in the Personnel Management Regulations, or in specific resolutions governing deep classifications. F. "Director of Personnel" means the parson designated by the County Administrator to serve as the Assistant County Administrator-Direetor of Personnel. G. "Eligible" means any person whose name is on an employment or reemployment or layoff list for a given class. H. _"Emplo eeee" means a person who is an incumbent of a position or who is on leave of absence in accordance with provisions of this Memorandum of understanding and whose position is held pending his return. I. "Employment List" means a list of persons, who have been found qualified for employment in a specific class. J. "Layoff List" means a list of persons who have occupied positions allocated to a class in the Merit System and who have been involuntarily separated by layoff or displacement or have voluntarily demoted in lieu of layoff. K. "Permanent Intermittent Position" means any position which requires the services of an incumbent for an indefinite period but on an intermittent basis, as needed, paid on an hourly basis. L. "Permanent Pant-Time Position" means any position which will require the services of an incumbent for an indefinite period but on a regularly scheduled less than full-time basis. M. "Permanent Position" means any position which has required, or which will require the services of an incumbent without interruption, for an indefinite period. N. "Pro Pot Em loyee" means an employee who is engaged in a time limited program or service by reason of limited or restricted funding. Such positions are typically funded from outside sources but may be funded from County revenue. 0. "Promotion" means the change of a permanent employee to another position in a class allocated to a salary range for which the top step is higher than the top step of the class which the employee formerly occupied, except as provided for under "Transfer" or as otherwise provided for in this Memorandum of Understanding, in the Personnel Management Regulations, or in specific resolutions governing deep classes. P. "Position" means the assigned duties and responsibilities calling for the regular full--time, part-time or intermittent employment of a person. Q. "Reallocation" means the act Of reassigning an individual position from one class to another class at the same range of the salary schedule or to a class which is allocated to another range that is within five (5) percent of the top step, except as otherwise provided for in the Personnel Management Regulations, deep class resolutions or other ordinances. s R. "Reclassification" means the act of changing the allocation of a position by raising it to a higher class or reducing it to a lower class on the basis of significant changes in the kind, difficulty or responsibility of duties performed in such position. S. "Reemployment List" means a list of persons, who have occupied positions allocated to any class in the merit system and, who have voluntarily separated and are qualified for consideration for reappointment under the Personnel Management Regulations governing reemployment. T. "Resignation" means the voluntary termination of permanent service with the County from a position in the merit system. U. "Temporary Employment" means any employment in the merit system which will require the services of an incumbent for a limited period of time, paid on an hourly basis, not in an allocated posi- tion or in permanent status. V. "Transfer" means the change of an employee who has permanent status in a position to another position in the same class in the same class in a different department, or to another position in a class which is allocated to a range on the salary plan that is within five (5) percent at top step as the class previously occupied by the employee. Section 1 Recognition 1 .1 Union Recognition. The Union is the formally recognized employee organization for the representation units listed below, and such organization has been certified as such pursuant to Chapter 34-12 of the Contra Costa County Ordinance Code, A. Community Aide Unit B. Social Services Unit Section 2 Union Security 2.1 Dues Deduction. Pursuant to Chapter 34 .26 of County Ordinance 73-32, only a majority representative may have dues deduction and as such the union has the exclusive privilege of dues deduction for all members in its units. Dues deduction shall be based on the voluntary written authorization of the employee which shall remain in effect so long as the employee remains in a unit represented by the Union unless such authorization is cancelled in writing by the employee in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 2.4. The dues deduction shall be for a specified amount and uniform between members of the Union. The Union shall indemnify, defend, and hold the County harmless against any claims made and against any suit instituted against the County on account of dues deduction. The Union shall refund to the County any amounts paid to it in error upon presentation of supporting evidence. 3 2.2 Eeployees hired on or after September 1, 1981 in classifications assigned to units represented by the Union shall, as a condition of employment at the time of employment, complete a Union dues authorization card provided by the Union and shall have deducted from their paychecks the membership dues of the Union. Said employees shall have thirty (30) days from the date of hire to decide if he/she does not want to become a member of the Union. Such decision not to become a member of the Union must be made in writing to the Auditor--Controller with a copy to the Employee Relations Division within said thirty (30) day period. If the employee decides not to become a member of the Union, any Union dues previously deducted from the employees' paycheck shall be returned to the employee and said amount shall be deducted from the next dues deduction check sent to the Union. If the employee does not notify the County in writing of the decision not to become a member within the thirty (30) day period, he/she shall be deemed to have voluntarily agreed to pay the dues of the Union. Each such dues authorization form referenced above shall include a statement that the Union and the County have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, that the employee is required to authorize payroll deductions of Union dues as a condition of employment, and that such authorization may be revoked within the first 30 days of employment upon proper written notice of the employee within said 30 day period as set forth above. Each such employee shall, upon completion of the authorization form, receive a copy of said authorization form which shall be deemed proper notice of his or her right to revoke said authorization. 2.3 Maintenance of Membership. All employees in units represented by the Union who are currently paying dues to the Union and all employees in such units who hereafter become members of the Union shall as a condition of continued employment pay dues to the Union for the duration of this Memorandum of Understanding and each year thereafter so long as the Union continues to represent the position, to which the employee is assigned, unless the employee has exercised the option to cease paying dues in accordance with Section 2.4. 2.4 Withdrawal of Membership. By notifying the Auditor-Controller's Department in writing, between April 2, 1983 and May 2, 1983, any employee may withdraw from from Union membership and discontinue paying dues as of the payroll period commencing April 1, 1963, discontinuance of dues payments to then be reflected in the May 10th paycheck. Immediately upon the close of the above mentioned thirty (30) day period the Auditor-Controller shall submit to the Union a list of the employees who have rescinded their authorization for dues deduction. 2.5 Communicating With Employees. The Union shall be allowed to use designated portions of bulletin boards or display areas in public portions of County buildings or in public portions of offices in which there are employees represented by the Union, provided the communications displayed have to do with official organization business such as times and places of meetings and further provided that the employee organization appropriately posts and removes the information. The department head or authorized representatives reserves the right to remove objectionable materials after notification and discussion with the Union. 4 - Representatives of the Union, not on County time, shall be permitted to place a supply of employee literature at specific locations in County buildings if arranged through the Department Head or authorized representative; and may distribute employee organization literature in work areas (except work areas not open to the public) if the nature of the literature and the proposed method of distribution are compatible with the work environment and work in progress. Such placement and/or distribution shall not be performed by on duty employees. The union shall be allowed access to work locations in which it represents employees for the following purposes: A. to post literature on bulletin boards; B. to arrange for use of a meeting room; C. to leave and/or distribute a supply of literature as indicated above; D. to represent an employee on a grievance, and/or to contact a union officer on a matter within the scope or representation. In the application of this provision, it is agreed and understood that in each such instance advance arrangements, including disclosure of which of the above purposes is the reason for the visit, will be made with the departmental representative in charge of the work area, and the visit will not interfere with County services. 2.6 Use of County Buildings. The Union shall be allowed the use of areas normally used for meeting purposes for meetings of County employees during non- work hours when: A. Such space is available and its use by the Union is scheduled twenty-four (24) hours in advance; B. There is no additional cost to the County; C. It does not interfere with normal County operations, D. Employees in attendance are not on duty and are not scheduled for duty; B. The meetings are on matters within the scope of representation. The administrative official responsible for the space shall establish and maintain scheduling of such uses. The Union shall maintain proper order at the meeting, and see that the space is left in a clean and orderly condition. The use of County equipment (other than items normally used in the conduct of business meetings, such as desks, chairs, ashtrays, and blackboards) is strictly prohibited, even though it may be present in the meeting area. i 2.7 Advance Notice. The Union shall, except in cases of emergency, have the right to reasonable notice of any ordinance, rule, resolution or regulation directly relating to matters within the scope of representation proposed to be adopted by the Board, or boards and commissions designated by the Board, and to meet with the body considering the matter. f _ 5 The listing of an item on a public agenda in a reasonably descriptive way, or the mailing of a copy of a proposal at least seventy-two (72) hours before the item will be heard, or the delivery of a copy of the proposal at least twenty-- four (24) hours before the item will be heard, shall constitute notice. In cases of emergency when the Board, or boards and commissions designated by the Board determines it must act immediately without such notice or meeting, it shall give notice and opportunity to meet as soon as practical after its action. 2.8 Written Statement for New Employees. The County will provide a written statement to each new employee hired into a classification which is in the Social Service Unit or Community Services Unit that their classification is represented by Local 535 and the name of a representative of Local 535. Section 3 No Discrimination There shall be no discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation, or Union activities against any employee or applicant for employment by the County or by anyone employed by the County; and to the extent prohibited by applicable State and Federal law there shall be no discrimination because of age or physical handicap. Section 4 Shop Stewards and Official Representatives 4.1 Attendance at Meetings. Employees designated as shop stewards or official representatives of the Union shall be allowed to attend meetings held by County agencies during regular working hours on County time as follows. A. If their attendance is required by the County at a specific meeting; B. If their attendance is sought by a hearing body or presentation of testimony or other reasons; C. If their attendance is required for meeting required for settlement of grievances filed pursuant to Section 25 (Grievance Procedure) of this Memorandum; D. If they are designated as a shop steward, in which case they may utilize a reasonable time at each level of the proceedings to assist an employee to present a grievance; E. If they are designated as spokesperson or representative of the Union and as such make representations or presentations at meetings or hearings on wages, salaries and working conditions; provided in each case advance arrangements for time away from the employee's work station or assignment are made with the appropriate department head, and the County agency calling the meeting is responsible for determining that the attendance of the particular employee(s) is required. 6 y 4.2 Union Representative. Official representatives of the Union shall be allowed time off on County time for meetings during regular working hours when formally meeting and conferring in good faith or consulting with the Employee Relations Officer or other management representatives on matters within the scope of representation, provided that the number of such representatives shall not exceed two (2) without prior approval of the Employee Relations Officer, and that advance arrangements for the time away from the work station or assignment are made with the appropriate Department Head. Section 5 Salaries 5.1 Effective July 1 , 1981 , the salary range for each represented classifi- cation shall be as set forth in Attachment B which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. 5.2 Effective July 1 , 1982, the salary range for each classification shall be increased by 8% or 77 levels on the H series salary schedule. However, should the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers-San Francisco-Oakland, California all items (1957)x100 hereinafter referred to as the "Index" from April 1981 to April 1982 increase more than twelve (12%) percent, the salary range for each classification represented by the Union shall be increased an additional amount to be determined by subtracting twelve percent (12%) from the amount of the increase in the Index and dividing by two (2) , said amount to be rounded to the nearest level on the H series salary scehdule. For example: Increase in Consumer Price Index v 13.4% -12.0 1 . 2 a .7% Mounded to .7021% or seven (7) levels on the H series salary schedule. No adjustments, retroactive or otherwise shall be made in the amount of the salary increase due to any revision which later may be made in the published figures for the Index for any month on the basis of which the increase has been determined. A decline in the 'Index shall not result in a reduction of classification salary rates. The salary increase based on the Index shall be contingent upon the continued availability of official monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index in its present form and calculated on the same basis as the foregoing Index (1967:100) unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. 5.3 Entrance Salary. New employees shall generally be appointed at the minimum step of the salary range established for the particular class of position to which the appointment is made. However, the appointing authority may fill a particular position at a step above the minimum of the range. 5.4 Anniversary Dates. Exoept as may otherwise be provided for in deep class resolutions, anniversary dates will be set as follows: A. Now Employees. The anniversary date of a new employee is the first day of the calendar month after the calendar month when the employee successfully completes six (6) months service provided however, if an employee began work on the first regularly scheduled workday of the month the anniversary date is the first day of the calendar month when the employee successfully competes six months service. B. Promotions. The anniversary date of a promoted employee is determined as for a new employee in subsection 5.4 A above. C. Transfer, Reallocation and Reclassification. The anniversary date of an employee who is transferred to another position or one whose position has been reallocated or reclassified to a class allocated to the same salary range or to a salary range which is within five (5) percent of the top step of the previous classification, remains unchanged. D. ReemploSents. The anniversary of an employee appointed from a reemployment list to the the first step of the applicable salary range and not required to serve a probation period is determined in the same way as the anniversary date is determined for a new employee who is appointed the same date, classification and step and who then successfully completes the required probationary period. E. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section 5, the anniversary of an employee who is appointed to a classified position from out- side the Countyts merit system at a rate above the minimum salary for the employeets new class, or who is transferred from another governmental entity to this County's merit system, is one (1) year from the first year of the calendar month after the calendar month when the employee was appointed or transferred; provided, however, when the appointment or transfer is effective on the employee's first regularly scheduled work day of that month, his anniversary is one (1) year after the first calendar day of that month. 5.5 Increments Within Range. The performance of each employee, except those of employees already at the maximum salary step of the appropriate salary range, shall be reviewed on the anniversary date as set forth in Section 5.4 to determine whether the salary of the employee shall be advanced to the next higher step in the salary range. Advancement shall be granted on the affirmative recommendation of the appointing authority, based on satisfactory performance by the employee. The appointing authority may recommend unconditional denial of the increment or denial subject to review at some specified date before the next anniversary. Except as herein provided, increments within range shall not be granted more frequently than once a year, nor shall more than one (1) step within-range increment be granted at one time, except as otherwise provided in deep-class resolutions. In case an appointing authority recommends denial of the within- range increment on some particular anniversary date, but recommends a special salary review at some date before the next anniversary the special salary review shall not affect the regular salary review on the next anniversary date. Nothing herein shall be construed to make the granting of increments mandatory on the 8 County. If an operating department verifies in writing that an administrative or clerical error was made in failing to submit the documents needed to advance an employee to the next salary step on the first of the month when eligible, said advancement shall be made retroactive to the first of the month when eligible. 5.6 -Part-'Time Compensation. A part-time employee shall be paid a monthly salary in the same ratio to the full-time monthly rate to which the employee would be entitled as a full-time employee under the provisions of this Section 5 as the number of hours per week in the employee's part--time work schedule bears to the number of hours in the full-time work schedule of the department. 5.7 Compensation for Portion of Month. Any employee who works less than any full calendar month, except when on earned vacation or authorized sick leave, shall receive as compensation for services an amount which is in the same ratio to the extablished monthly rate as the number of days worked is to the actual working days in such employee's normal work schedule for the particular month; but if the employment is intermittent, compensation shall be on an hourly basis. 5.8 Position declassification. An employee who is an incumbent of a position which is reclassified to a class which is allocated to the same range of the basic salary schedule as is the class of the position before it was reclassified, shall be paid at the same step of the range as the employee received under the previous classification. An incumbent of a position which is reclassified to a class which is allocated to a lower range of the basic salary schedule shall continue to receive the same salary as before the reclassification, but if such salary is greater than the maximum of the range of the class to which the position has been reclassified, the salary of the incumbent shall be reduced to the maximum salary for the new classification. The salary of an incumbent of a position which is reclassified to a class which is allocated to a range of the basic salary schedule greater than the range of the class of the position before it was reclassified shall be governed by the provisions of Section 5.10 Salary on Promotion. 5.9 Salar-y deallocation and Salaryon deallocation. } A. In a general salary increase or decrease, an employee in a class which is reallocated to a salary range above or below that to which it was previously allocated, when the number of steps remain the same, shall be compensated at the same step in the new salary range the employee was receiving in the range to which the class was previously allocated. If the reallocation is from one salary range with more steps to a range with fewer steps or vice versa, the employee shall be compensated at the step on the new range which is in the same percentage ratio to the top step of the new range as was the salary received before reallocation to the top step of the old range, but in no case shall any employee be compensated at less than the first step of the range to which the class is allocated. B. In the event that a classification is reallocated from a salary range with more steps to a salary range with fewer steps on the salary schedule, apart from the general salary increase or decrease described in 5.9A above, each incumbent of a position in the reallocated class shall be placed upon the step of the new range which equals the rate of pay received before the reallocation. In //0(r C/ the event that the steps in the new range do not contain the same rates as the old range, each incumbent shall be placed at the step of the new range which is next above the salary rate received in the old range, or if the new range does not contain a higher step, at the step which is next lower than the salary received in the old range. C. In the event an employee is in a position which is reallocated to a different class which is allocated to a salary range the same as above or below the salary range of the employee's previous class, the incumbent shall be placed at the step in the new class which equals the rate of pay received before reallocation. In the event that the steps in the range for the new class do not contain the same rates as the range for the old class, the incumbent shall be placed at the step of the new range which is next above the salary rate received in the old range; or if the new range does not con- tain a higher step, the incumbent shall be placed at the step which is next lower than the salary received in the old range. D. In the event of reallocation to a deep class, the provisions of the deep class resolution and incumbent salary allocations, if any, shall supercede section 5.9. 5.10 Salarv _on. Promotion. Any employee who is appointed to a position of a class allocated to a higher salary range than the class previously occupied, except as provided under Section 5.13, shall receive the salary in the new salary range which is next higher than the rate received before promotion. In the event this increase is less than five percent (5%) , the employee's salary shall be adjusted to the step in the new range which is at least five percent (5%) greater than the next higher step; provided, however, that the next step shall not exceed the maximum salary for the higher class. 5.11 Salary on Demotion. Any employee who is demoted, except as provided under Section 5.14, shall_ _nv, "n �Rlary reduced to the monthly salary step in the range for the class of position to which he has been demoted next lower than the salary received before demotion. In the event this decrease is less than five percent (5%) , the employee's salary shall be adjusted to the step in the new range which is five percent (5%) less than the next lower step; provided, however, that the next step shall not be less than the minimum salary for the lower class. Whenever the demotion is the result of layoff, cancellation of positions or displacement by another employee with greater seniority rights, the salary of the demoted employee shall be that step on the salary range which he would have achieved had he been continuously in the position to which he has been demoted, all within-range increments having been granted. 5.12 Salary on Voluntary Demotion. 'Whenever any employee voluntarily demotes to a position in a class having a salary schedule lower than that of the class from which he or she demotes, unless the Hoard provides otherwise by resolution, his or her salary shall remain the same if the steps in his or her new (+emoted) salary range permit, and if not, new salary shall be set at the step w.xt below former salary. 10 5.13 Tragi. An employee who is transferred from one position to another as described under "Transfer" shall be placed at the step in the salary range of the new class which equals the rate of pay received before the transfer. In the event that the steps in the range for the new class do not contain the same rates as the range for the old class, the employee shall be placed at the step of the new range which is next above the salary rate received in the old range; or if the new range does not contain a higher step, the employee shall be placed at the step which is next lower than the salary received in the old range. If the transfer is to a deep class, the provisions of the deep class resolution on salary of transfers, if any, shall apply in lieu of the above provisions. 5.14 Pavy for Work in Higher Classification. When an employee in a permanent position in the merit system is required to work in a classification for which the compensation is greater than that to which the employee is regularly assigned, the employee shall receive compensation for such work at the rate of pay established for the higher classification pursuant to Subsection 5"1U Salary on Promotion of this Memorandum, commencing on the eighteenth Orth)work day of the assignment, under the following conditions: 1 . The employee is assigned to a program service, or activity established by the Board of Supervisors which is reflected in an authorized position which has been classified and assigned to the Salary Schedule. 2. The nature of the departmental assignment is such that the employee in the lower classification becomes fully responsible for the duties of the position of the higher classification. 3. Employees selected for the assignment will normally be expected to meet the minimum qualifications for the higher classification. 4. Pay for work in a higher classification shall not be utilized as a substitute for regular promotional procedures provided in this Memorandum. 5. The appropriate authorization form has been submitted by the Department Head at least fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration of the seventeen (17) day waiting period and approved by the County Administrator. 6. Higher pay assignments shall not exceed six (6) months except through reauthorization. 7. If approval is granted for pay for work in a higher classification and the assignment is terminated and later reapproved for the same employee within thirty (30) days, no additional waiting period will be required. 8. Any incentives (e.g., the education incentive) and special differentials (e.g. , bilingual differential and hazardous duty differential) accruing to the employee in his/her permanent position shall continue. - 11 - 46Oe.7(0 ' 9. During the period of work for higher pay in a higher classification, an employee will retain his/her permanent classification, and anniversary and salary review dates will be determined by time in that classification. 10. _Allowable overtime pay, shift differential and/or work location differentials will be paid on the basis of the rate of pay for the higher class. 5.15 Payment. On the tenth (10th) day of each month, the Auditor will draw a warrant upon the Treasurer in favor of each employee for the amount of salary due the employee for the preceding month; provided, however, that each employee (except those paid on an hourly rate) may choose to receive an advance on the employee's monthly salary, in which case the Auditor shall, on the twenty-fifth (25th) day of each month, draw his warrant upon the Treasurer in favor of such employee. The advance shall be in an amount equal to one-third (1/3) of the employee's basic salary of the previous month except that it shall not exceed the amount of the previous month's basic salary less all requested to required deductions. The election to receive an advance shall be made on or before April 30 or October 31 of each year or during the first month of employment by filing on forms prepared by the Auditor-Controller a notice of election to receive salary advance. Each election shall become effective on the first day of the month following the deadline for filing the notice and shall remain effective until revoked. In the case of an election made pursuant to this Section 5.15, all required or requested deductions from salary shall be taken from the second installment, which is payable on the tenth (10th) day of the following month. Section 6 Days and Hours of Work The normal work week of County employees is forty (40) hours between 12:01 a.m. Monday to 12.00 midnight Sunday, usually five (5) eight-hour days; however, where operational requirements of a department require deviations from the usual pattern of five eight-hour days per work week, an employee's work hours may be scheduled to meet these requirements, but his working time shall not exceed an average of forty (40) hours per seven (7) day period throughout an operational cycle, and the Department Head shall prepare written schedules in advance to support all deviations, the schedules to encompass the complete operational cycle contemplated. Section 7 Overtime and Compensatory Time 7.1 Overtime. Overtime is any authorized work performed in excess of forty hours per week or eight hours per day. All overtime shall be compensated for at the rate of one and one-half (1-1/2) times the employee's base rate of pay (not including shift and other special differentials) . Overtime for permanent employees is compensated in increments of one-half hour by either pay or compensatory time off. _ 12 Employees entitled to overtime credit for holidays in positions which work around the clock (such as the County hospital, and jails, and the ,juvenile hall and boys* ranch) shall be provided a choice as to whether they shall be paid at the overtime rate or shall receive compensatory time off at the rate of one and one-half hours compensatory time off for each hour worked. Such compensatory time off,- and the accumulation thereof shall be in addition to the total vacation accumulation permitted under the terms of this Memorandum of understanding. The specific provision of this accumulation are set forth in Section 12.4 of this Memorandum of understanding. Regular overtime for 24 hour institutional employees may be accrued as compensatory time in accordance with Section 7.2 of this Memorandum of understanding. 7.2 Compensatory Time A. Employees receiving overtime pay who wish to accrue compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay shall notify the department on the approved form indicating their desire to accrue compensatory time off at least seven (7) calendar days prior to July 1 of each year. Employees accruing compensatory time off and who wish to continue to accrue compensatory time off in a subsequent fiscal year are not required to notify the department. An employee wishing to change the method of overtime compensation (overtime pay to compensatory time off or compensatory time off to overtime pay) during the fiscal year may do so by notifying the department on the approved form with 30 days notice of such change. Only one such change shall be allowed per fiscal year. B. The names of those employees electing to accrue compensatory time off shall be placed on a list maintained by the department. At time of appointment, newly appointed employees may elect to accrue compensatory time off in lieu of overtime pay by notifying the department on the approved form. C. Compensatory time off shall be accrued at the rate of one and one- half (1j) times the actual authorized overtime hours worked by the employee. A permanent part-time employee shall accrue compensatory time off at the rate of one (1) hour for each hour worked in excess of the employee's regular work week for those hours which are not authorized overtime. t G D. Employees may not accrue a compensatory time off balance that { exceeds fifty (50) hours. Once a fifty (50) hour balance has been attained, authorized overtime hours worked will be paid at the overtime rate. If the employee's balance falls below fifty (50) hours, the employee shall again accrue compensatory time off for authorized overtime hours worked until the employee's balance again reaches fifty (50) hours. E. Accrued compensatory time off shall be carried over for use in the next fiscal year; however, as provided in D above, accrued compensatory time off balances may not exceed fifty (50) hours. 13 0/AP F. The use of accrued compensatory time off shall be by mutual agreement betwen the Department Head or his designee and the employee. Compensatory time off shall not be taken when the employee would be replaced by another employee who would be eligible to receive, for time worked, either overtime payment or compensatory time accruals as provided for in this Section. This provision may be waived at the discretion of the Department Head or his designee. G. When an employee promotes, demotes or transfers from the classifi- cation eligible for compensatory time off to another classification eligible for compensatory time off within the same department, the employee's accrued compensatory time off balance will be carried forward with the employee. H. Compensatory time accrual balances will be paid off when an employee moves from one department to another through promotion, demotion or transfer. Said payoff will be made in accordance with the provisions and salary of the class from which the employee is promoting, demoting or transferring as provided in I. below. I. Since employees accrue compensatory time off at the rate of one and one-half (1j) hours for each hour of authorized overtime worked, accrued compensatory time balances shall be paid off at the straight time rate (two-thirds (2I3) the overtime rate) for the employee's current salary: Whenever: 1) the employee changes status and is no longer eligible for compensatory time off; 2) the employee promotes, demotes or transfers to another department; 3) the employee separates from County service; 4) the employee retires; 5) the employee is granted a leave of absence J. Compensatory time off shall be accrued and taken in increments of one-half (J) hour. s K. The Office of the County Auditor-Controller will establish time- keeping procedures to administer this section. e Section S Call Back Time t V Any employee who is called back to duty shall be paid at the appropriate rate for the actual time worked plus one (1) hour. Such employee called back shall be paid a minimum of two (2) hours at the appropriate rate for each call back. C i F {E I I - 14 - I Section 9 On-Call Dutj On call duty is any time other than time when the employee is actually on duty during which an employee is not required to be on County premises but stand ready to immediately report for duty and must arrange so that his superior can ! reach him on ten (10) minutes' notice or less. An employee assigned to on-call time shall be paid one (1) hour of straight time credit for each four (4) hours on such on-call time. Those positions which are on-call shall be designated by the appointing authority whose decision is final. Assignment to an on-call position shall be in accordance with Section 39 (Reassignment). Section 10 Shift Differential In the hours which qualify for shift differential, employees shall receive five percent (5%) above their base salary rate. To qualify for shift differential, an employee must have a regularly assigned daily work schedule which requires: A. Completion of more than one and one-half (1-1/2) hours over the normal actual working time; or B. At least four (4) hours of actual working time from 5:00 p.m. through 9:00 a.m. inclusive. However, employees who have been regularly working a shift qualifying for shift differential immediately preceding the commencement of a vacation, paid sick leave period, paid disability or other paid leave, will have shift differential included in computing the pay for their leave. The paid leave of an employee who is on a rotating shift schedule shall include the shift differential that would have been received had the employee worked the shift for which the employee was scheduled during such period. Shift differential shall only be paid during paid sick leave and paid disability as provided above for the first thirty (30) calendar days of each absence. Section 11 Union Notification of LMoff When it appears to the Department Head and/or Employee Relations Officer that the Board of Supervisors may take action which will result in the layoff of employees in a representation unit represented by the Union, the Employee Relations Officer shall notify the Union of the possibility of such layoffs and shall meet and confer with it regarding the implementation of the action. The County agrees to give employees ten (10) work days notice of layoff except in cases of emergency. 15 v R/A040 ly Section 12 Holidays 12.1 The County will observe the following holidays: A. Labor Day Admission Day Columbus Day 'veterans' Day Thanksgiving Day Day After Thanksgiving Christmas New Years' Day Lincoln's Day Washington's Day Memorial Day Independence Day Such other days as the Board of Supervisors may by resolution designate as holidays. B. Effective May 1 , 1982, Lincoln's Day, Admission Day, and Columbus Day shall be deleted as holidays and each employee shall accrue two (2) hours of personal holiday credit per month. Such personal holiday time may be taken in increments of one (1) hour, and preference of personal holidays shall be given to employees according to their seniority in their department as reasonably as possible. No employee may accrue more than thirty-two (32) hours of personal holiday credit. On separation from County service, an employee shall be paid for any unused personal holiday credits at the employee's then current pay rate. C. Permanent part-time employees shall receive personal holiday credit in the same ratio to the personal holiday credit given full-time employees as the number of hours per week in the part-time employee's schedule bears to the number of hours in the regular full-time schedule. D. Employees in positions which work around the clock shall continue to celebrate those holidays listed in Section 12.1 (a) above. 12.2 The following provisions indicate how holiday credit is to be applied: A. Employees on the five-day forty (40) hour Monday through Friday work schedule shall be entitled to a holiday whenever a holiday is observed pursuant to the schedule cited above. B. Employees on a work schedule other than Monday through Friday shall be entitled to credit for any holiday, whether worked or not, observed by employees on the regular schedule; conversely, such employees will not receive credit for any holiday not observed by employees on the regular schedule even though they work the holiday. C. Employees will be paid one and one-half (1-1/2) times their basic salary rate for holidays actually worked. _ 16 _ The purpose of this plan is to equalize holidays between employees on regular work schedule and those on other work schedules. If a holiday falls on the days off of an employee on a schedule other than Monday through Friday the employee shall be given credit for overtime or granted time off on the employee's next scheduled work day. Employees who are not permitted to take holidays because of the nature of their work are entitled to overtime pay as specified by this Memorandum of Understanding. 12.3 If any holiday listed in Section 12.1A above falls on a Saturday, it shall be observed on the preceding Friday. If any holiday listed in Section 12.1A above falls on a Sunday, it shall be observed on the following Monday. 12.4 Accrual of Holiday Time. Employees entitled to overtime credit in positions which work around the clock shall be permitted to elect between pay at the overtime rate or compensatory time off in recognition of holidays worked. The following procedures shall apply to this selection: 1 . Any person who is eligible and who elects to accrue holiday time must agree to do so for a full fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) , or the remainder thereof, unless otherwise specified by the Board. 2. Employees starting work after a list of those electing to accrue holiday time has been submitted to the Auditor and approved, will be paid overtime unless they specifically requested in writing within seven (7) calendar days to be placed on the accrual list. 3. Holiday time shall be accrued at the rate of one and one-•half (1-D times the actual hours worked to a maximum of eight (8) hours worked by the employee. 4. Holiday time may not be accumulated in excess of two-hundred eighty-eight (288) working hours. Holiday time may be accrued up to 288 hours, exclusive of regular vacation accruals. After 288 hours, holiday time shall be paid at the overtime rate as specified in Section 7. 5. Accrued holiday time may be taken off at times determined by mutual agreement of the employee and the Department Head. The Department Head's decision in such matters shall be final. 6. Accrued holiday time shall be paid off only upon a change in status of the employee such as separation, transfer to another department or reassignment to a permanent--intermittent position. Section 13 Vacation Leave 13.1 Vacation Allowance. Employees in permanent positions are entitled to vacation with pay. Accrual is based upon straight time hours of working time per calendar month of service and begins on the date of appointment to a permanent position. Increased accruals begin on the first of the month following the month in which the employee qualifies. Accrual for portions of a month shall be in minimum amounts of one (1) hour calculated on the same basis as for partial month compensation pursuant to Section 5.7 of this Memorandum of 'Understanding. - 17 - e!1/040v Vacation credits may not be taken during, the first six (6) months of employment except where sick leave has been exhausted; and none shall be allowed in excess of actual accrual at the time vacation is taken. 13.2 Vacation Accrual Rates. Monthly Maximum Accrual Cumulative Length of Service Hours Hours Cinder 15 years 10 240 15 through 19 years 13 1/3 320 20 through 24 years 16 2/3 40O 25 through 29 year 20 480 30 years and up 23 1/3 560 Employees in permanent part-time and permanent-intermittent positions shall accrue vacation benefits on a pro-rata basis as provided in Ordinance Code Section 36-1.006. 13.3 No employee who has been granted a leave without pay or unpaid military leave shall accrue any vacation credit during the time of such leave, nor shall an employee who is absent without pay accrue vacation credit during the absence. 13.4 Vacation Allowance for Separated Employees. On separation from County service, an employee shall be paid for any unused vacation credits at the employee's then current pay rate. 13.5 Vacation Preference. Preference of vacation shall be given to employees according to their seniority in their department as reasonably as possible. Section 14 Sick Leave 14.1 The purpose of paid sick leave is to insure employees against loss of pay for temporary absences from work due to illness or injury. Sick leave may be used only as authorized; it is not paid time off which employees may use for personal activities. 14.2 Sick leave credits accrue at the rate of eight (8) working hours credit for each completed month of service. Employees who work a portion of a month are entitled to a pro-rata share of the monthly sick leave credit computed on the same basis as is partial month compensation. Credits to and charges against sick leave are made in minimum amounts of one-half (1/2) hour. Unused sick leave credits accumulate from year to year. When an employee is separated, other than through retirement, accumulated sick leave credits shall be cancelled, unless the separation results from layoff in which case the accumulated credits shall be restored if the employee is reemployed in a permanent position within the period of his layoff eligibility. Upon retirement, an employee's accumulated sick leave shall be converted to retirement time on the basis of one day of retirement service credit for each day of accumulated sick leave credit. - 18 -- Accumulated paid sick leave credits may be used, subject to appointing authority approval, by an employee in pay status, but only in the following instances: A. An employee may use paid sick leave credits when the employee is off work because of a temporary illness or injury. B. Sick leave may be used by permanently disabled employees until all accruals of the employee have been exhausted or until the employee is retired by the Retirement Board subject to the conditions listed below. For the purposes of this Section 14 permanent disability shall mean the employee suffers from a disabling physical injury or illness and is thereby prevented from engaging in any County occupation for which he is qualified by reason of education, training or experience. Sick leave credits may be used under this provision only when the following requirements are met: 1 . An application for retirement due to disability has been filed with the Retirement Board and 2. satisfactory medical evidence of such disability is received by the appointing authority within thirty (30) days of the start of use of sick leave for permanent disability. The appointing authority may review medical evidence and other further examination as he deems necessary, and may terminate use of sick leave when such further examination demonstrates that the employee is not disabled, or when the appointing authority determines that the medical evidence submitted by the employee is insufficient, or where the above conditions have not been met. C. Communicable Disease. An employee may use paid sick leave credits while under a physician's orders to remain secluded due to exposure to a communicable disease. D. Sick Leave Utilization for Pregnanoy Disability. Female employees whose disability is caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, childbirth, or recovery therefrom, shall be allowed to utilize sick leave credit to the maximum accrued by such disability under the conditions set forth below: 1. Application for such leave must be made by the employee to the appointing authority accompanied by a written statement of disability from the employee's attending physician. The statement must address itself to the employee's general physical condition having considered the nature of the work performed by the employee, and it must indicate the date of the commencement of the disability as well as the date the physician anticipates the disability to terminate. The appointing authority retains the right to medical review of all requests for such leave. 2. If a female employee does not apply for sick leave and the appointing authority believes that the employee is not able to properly perform her work or that her general health is impaired due to disability caused or contributed to by pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, childbirth or - 19 - t f 0&V y/ recovery therefrom, the employee shall be required to undergo a physical examination by a physician selected by the County the cost of such examination shall be borne by the County. Should the medical report so recommend, a mandatory leave shall be imposed upon the employee for the duration of the disability. 3. If all accrued sick leave has been utilized by the employee, the employee shall be considered on leave without pay. Sick leave may not be utilized after the employee has been released from the hospital unless the employee has provided the County with a written statement from her attending physician stating that her disability continues and the projected date of the employee's recovery from such disability. E. Medical and Dental Appointments. An employee may use paid sick leave credits for medical and dental appointments as follows. 1 . For working time used in keeping medical and dental appointments for the employee's own care; and 2. For working time (not over thirty-two (32) hours in each fiscal year) used by an employee for pre-scheduled medical and dental appointments for an immediate family member living in the employee's home. Such use of sick leave credits shall be accounted for by the department on a fiscal year basis. Any balance of the thirty-two (32) hours remaining at the end of the fiscal year shall not be carried over to the next year; departments shall notify the employee if the maximum allowance is reached. Authorization to use sick leave for this purpose is contingent on availability of accumulated sick leave credits; it is not an additional allotment of sick leave which employees may charge. F. Emergency Care of_Family. Effective the first of the month following the execution of this Agreement, an employee may use paid sick leave credits (up to three (3) days, unless the Department Head approves more) for working time used in cases of illness, or injury to, an immediate family member living in the employee's home, if there is a real need for someone to render care and no one else is available therefore, and if alternative arrangements for the ill or injured person are immediately undertaken. G. Death of Family Member. An employee may use said sick leave credits for absence from work because of a death in the employee's immediate family, but this shall not exceed three (3) working days plus up to two (2) days of work time for necessary travel. 14.3 Administration of Sick Leave. Accumulated paid sick leave credits ma not be used in the following situations: 20 1 . Self-inflicted Injury. For time off from work for an employee's illness or injury caused by his or her willful misconduct. 2. Vacation. For an employee's illness or injury while the employee is on vacation except when extenuating circumstances exist and the appointing authority approves. 3. Not in Pay Status. When the employee would otherwise be eligible use paid sick leave credits but is not in a pay status. The proper administration of sick leave is a responsibility of the employee and the Department Head. The following procedures apply: A. Employees are responsible for notifying their department of an absence as early as possible prior to the commencement of their work shift or not later than 30 minutes thereafter if possible. Notification shall include the reason and possible duration of the absence. B. Employees are responsible for keeping their department informed of their continuing condition and probable date of return to work. C. Employees are responsible for obtaining advance approval from their appointing authority or designee for the schedule time of prearranged personal or family medical and dental appointments. The use of sick leave may be denied if these procedures are not followed. Abuse of the sick leave privilege on the part of the employee is course for disciplinary action. To ascertain the propriety of claims against sick Leave, Department Heads may make such investigations as they deem necessary. The Department Head may use but is not limited to the following procedures: 1 . Calling the employee, his family or attending physician if there is one. 2. Obtaining the signature of the employee on the AbsenoelOvertime Record, or on another form established for that purpose, as a certification of the legitimacy of the claim. 3. Obtaining a written statement explaining the claim for use of accumulated sick leave credits. 4. Obtaining a physician's oertificate covering the absence(s) indicating that the employee was incapacitated. 5. Writing a letter of inquiry about the employe's condition enclosing a form to be filled out, signed, and returned. 6. Obtaining a periodic statement of progress and medical certification in absences of an extended nature. Department Heads are responsible for establishing timekeeping procedures which will insure the submission of a time card covering each employee absence and for operating their respective offices in accordance with these provisions and with clarifying regulations issued by the Office of the County Administrator. 21 14.4 /usability A. An employee physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty is subject to dismissal, suspension or demotion, subject to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937. An appointing authority _may place an employee on leave if the appointing authority has filed an application for disability retirement for the employee. B. An appointing authority who has reasonable cause to believe that there are physical or mental health conditions present in an employee which endanger the health or safety of the employee, other employees, or the public, or which impair the employee's performance of duty, may order the employee to undergo at County expense a physical, medical and/or psychiatric examination by a licensed physician and receive a report of the findings on such examination. If the examining physician recommends that treatment for physical or mental health proglems, including leave, are in the best interests of the employee or the County in relation to the employee overcoming any disability and/or performing his duties the appointing authority may direct the employee to take such leave and/or undergo such treatment. C. Leave due to temporary or permanent disability shall be without prejudice to the employee's right to use sick leave, vacation, or any other benefit to which the employee is entitled other than regular salary. The Personnel Director may order lost pay restored for good cause and subject to the employee's duty to mitigate damages. D. Before an employee returns to work from any absence for illness or injury, other leave of absence or disability leave, exceeding two weeks in duration, the appointing authority may order the employee to undergo at County expense a physical, medical, and/or psychiatric examination by a licensed physician, and may consider a report of the findings on such examination. If the report shows that such employee is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty, the appointing authority may take such action as he deems necessary in accordance with appropriate provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding. 14.5 Workers' Compensation A. Employees who leave work as a result of an on-the-,job injury will have the balance of that day charged to sick leave and/or vacation accruals. This will be considered as the last day worked for purposes of determining Workers' Compensation benefits. B. Three (3) consecutive calendar days following the last day worked constitutes a waiting period before Workers' Compensation starts. The time the employee is scheduled to work durini this waiting period will be charged to the employee's sick leave and/or vacation accruals. In order to qualify for Workers' Compensation the employee must be under the care of a physician. Temporary compen- sation is payable on the first three (3) days of disability when the injury necessitates hospitalization, or when the disability exceeds twenty-one (21) days. - 22 - A permanent employee shall continue to receive full regular salary during any period of oompensable temporary disability absence. "Compensable temporary disability absence" for the purpose of this Section, is any absence due to work connected disability which qualifies for temporary disability compensation under Workers' Compensation Law set Forth in Division 4 of the California Labor Code. When any disability becomes permanent, the salary provided in this Section shall terminate. The employee shall return to the County all temporary disability payments received by him from any County funded wage replacement program. No charge shall be made against sick leave or vacatin for these salary payments. Sick leave and vacation rights shall not accrue for those periods during which salary payments are made. The County contribution to the employees group medical plan shall continue during any period of compensable temporary disability absence. The maximum period for the described salary continuation for any one injury or illness shall be one year from the date of temporary disability. C. Continuing pay begins at the same time that temporary Workers' Compensation starts and continues until the temporary disability ends, or until one (1) year from the date of injury, whichever comes first. State Workers' Compensation checks are made payable to the County by the "tate of California Insurance Fund. All continuing pay under the Workers' Compensation Program will be cleared through the Personnel Office, Safety Division. Whenever an employee who has been injured on the job and has returned to work is required by an attending physician to leave work for treatment during working hours the employee shall be allowed time off up to three (3) hours for such treatment without loss of pay or benefits. This provision applies only to injuries that have been accepted by the County as a ,fob connected injury. 14.6 For the purposes of this Section 14 the immediate family shall be restricted to the spouse, son, stepson, daughter, stepdaughter, father, stepfather, mother, stepmother, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, of an employee. 14.7 On May 26, 1981, the Board of Supervisors established a labor management committee to administer a rehabilitation program for disabled employees. It is understood that the benefits specified in this Section 14 shall be coordinated with the rehabilitation program as determined by the labor-management committee. 14.8 No employee who has been granted a leave without pay or unpaid military leave shall accrue any sick leave credits during the time of such leave, nor shall an employee who is absent without pay accrue sick leave credits during the absence. - 23 - N1 0409 14.9 Integration of State Disbilit Benefits with the County Sick Leave Benefit Program. Employee eligible for State Disability benefits and sick leave benefits for any portion of disability shall be required to make application for both benefits. The State Disability benefits shall be returned to the County to be credited to the employees sick leave balance on the following basis. 1. Integration with State Disability is automatic and cannot be waived. 2. The amount credited to the employees sick leave balance shall be converted to sick leave hours by dividing the amount received from State Disability Insurance by the employee's straight-time hourly rate, at the time of payment, as determined by the appropriate salary schedule for the employee's class of employment. 3. If the employee is eligible for State Disability Insurance benefits, application must be made and the benefits returned to the County for sick leave credits so that the principle of integration is completed. 4. In the event an employee is not eligible for sick leave credits from the County, there will be no integration and the employee shall not return State Disability Insurance benefits to the County. 5. In the event an employee receives sick leave benefits for a portion of the disability period, State Disability benefits must be utilized to restore only those sick leave hours used during the period of disability. 6. Restoration of sick Leave balances shall be rounded to the nearest one-half {}) hour. 7. In no instance will an employee be allowed to '"purchase" sick leave not accrued. 8. The County will provide separate accounting for the "purchased" sick leave to insure that State Disability Insurance benefits are not taxable. Section 15 Leave of Absence 15.1 Leave Without Pay. Any employee who has permanent status in the classified service may be granted a leave of absence without pay upon written request, approved by the appointing authority; provided, however, that leaves for pregnancy shall be granted in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Requests for leave without pay shall be made upon forms prescribed by the Director of Personnel and shall state specifically the reason for the request, the date when it is desired to begin the leave and the probable date of return. A. Leave without pay may be granted for any of the following reasons: 1 . Illness or disability; 2. pregnancy; 3. to take a course of study such as will increase his usefulness on return to his position; 4. for other reasons or circumstances acceptable to the appointing authority. - 24 - A leave without pay may be for a period not to exceed one (1) year, provided the appointing authority may extend such leave for additional periods. The procedure in granting extensions shall be the game as that in granting the original leave, provided that the request for extension must be made not later than fifteen (15) calendar days before the expiration of the original leave. Whenever an employee who has been granted a leave without any pay desires to return before the expiration of such leave, the employee shall so request of the appointing authority in writing at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the return for approval by the appointing authority. The Personnel Department shall be notified promptly of such return. Except with respect to leave due to pregnancy, illness or disability, the decision of the appointing authority on granting or denying a leave of absence shall be subject to appeal to the Personnel Director and not subject to appeal through the grievance procedure set forth in Section 23 of this Memorandum of Understanding. 15.2 Military Leave. Any employee who has permanent status in the merit system and who is required to serve as a member of the State Militia or the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or any division thereof, shall be granted a military leave for the period of such service, plus ninety (90) days. An employee who volunteers for such service shall be granted a leave of absence, if necessary, in accordance with applicable state or federal law. Upon the termination of such service or upon honorable discharge, the employee shall be entitled to return to his position in the classified service provided such still exists and the employee is otherwise qualified, without any loss of standing of any kind whatsoever. An employee who has been granted a military leave shall not, by reason of such absence, suffer any loss of vacation, holiday, or sick leave privileges which may be secured at the time of such leave, nor shall the employee be prejudiced thereby with reference to salary adjustments or continuation of employment. For purposes of determining eligibility for salary adjustments or seniority in case of layoff or promotional examination, time on military leave shall be considered as time in County service. Any employee who has been granted a military leave, may upon return, be required to furnish such evidence of performance of military service or of honorable discharge as the Director of Personnel may deem necessary. 15.3 Leave of Absence Re,21acement. Any permanent employee in the merit system who requests reinstatement to the classification held by the employee in the same department at the time the employee was granted a leave of absence, shall be reinstated to that classification and department. 15. 1 Salary Review While on Leave of Absence. The salary of an employee who is on leave of absence from a County position on any anniversary date and who has not been absent from the position on leave without pay more than six (6) months during the preceding year shall be reviewed on the anniversary date. Employees on military leave shall receive salary increments that may accrue to them during the period of military leave. 25 7 ho 15.5 Unauthorized Absence. An unauthorized absence from the work site or failure to report for duty after a leave request has been disapproved, revoked, or cancelled by the appointing authority, or at the expiration of a leave shall be without pay. Such absence may also be grounds for disciplinary action. 15.6 Time Off to Vote. Employees represented by the Union who do not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote at a statewide election, may, without loss of pay, take off enough working time which will enable the employee to vote. No more than two (2) hours of the time taken off for voting shall be without loss of pay. The time off for voting shall be only at the beginning or end of the regular working shift, whichever allows the most free time for voting and the least time off from the regular working shift. Any employee seeking time off to vote under the provisions of this Section, must submit a written request, at least two (2) working days in advance, to his or her immediate supervisor, stating the following: name; job classification; department; a statement "I am a registered voter"; geographic location and address of the employee's polling place; amount of time off requested and whether it is to be at the beginning or end of the employee's regular work day, and a clear statement as to why the employee is unable to vote during the regular hours that the polls are open. Section 16 Juror Duty and Witness Duty 16.1 Jury Duty. If called for jury duty in a Municipal, Superior, or Federal Court, or for a Coroner's ,jury, employees may remain in their regular Pay status, car they may take vacation leave or leave without pay and retain all fees and expenses paid to them. If an employee is called for jury duty and elects to remain in a regular pay status and waive all fees (other than mileage allowances) received, the employee shall obtain from the Clerk or Jury Commissioner a certificate which shall indicate the days attended and the fact that fees other than mileage are waived. The employee shall furnish the court certificate to his department, which shall be retained as a department record. When serving ,jury duty in a federal court, an employee shall return all fees (other than mileage allowance) received to the County. When an employee is called for ,jury duty and elects to retain all fees, the employee must take vacation leave or leave without pay. No court certificate is required in this instance. Employees shall advise their department as soon as possible if scheduled to appear for jury duty. Permanent intermittent employees are entitled paid ,jury duty leave only for those days on which they were previously scheduled to work. 16.2 Witness Duty. Employees called upon as a witness or an expert witness in a case arising in the course of their work or the work of another department may remain in their regular pay status and turn over to the County all fees and expenses paid to them (other than mileage allowances) or they make take vacation leave or leave without pay and retain all fees and expenses. - 2b - Employees called to serve as witnesses in private eases or personal matters (e.g., accident suits and family relations) shall take vacation leave or leave without pay and retain all witness feces paid to them. Retention or waiver of fees shall be governed by the same provisions as apply to jury duty as set forth in Section 16 of this Memorandum of Understanding. Employees shall advise their department as soon as possible if scheduled to appear for witness duty. Permanent intermittent employees are entitled to paid witness duty only for those days on which they were previously scheduled to work. Section 17 Health and Welfare, Life and Dental Care 17.1 The County will continue the existing County Group Health Plan program of combined medical, dental and life insurance coverage through California Dental Service, Occidental Life Insurance and the medical insurance options of Kaiser-Permanente Foundation, Blue Cross of Northern California, the Contra Costa County Health Plan and H.E.A.L.S. Health Plan to all permanent employees regularly scheduled to work twenty (20) or more hours per week. 17.2 In the event that it may be possible to provide hospital-medical, life insurance and dental coverage as nearly comparable as possible to the benefits in effect on July 1 , 1981, without additional cost to the County or the employees, the County may substitute new insurance carriers. The Union will be given an opportunity to meet and confer on the coverage afforded under such substitute plans before they are implemented. During the term of this Memorandum of Understanding, the County intends to seek alternatives to the Blue Cross Medical Plan by requesting that health care companies submit bids on the cost of furnishing identical or similar benefits as are provided under the Blue Cross Plan. The County will contribute up to the following monthly amounts toward the existing County Group Health Plan program of combined medical, dental and life insurance provided, however, that the minimum employee health plan contribution shall be $1.00 per month. Kaiser Option County contribution per Category► Employee per months 8/1/81 8/1/82 Employee Only $ 47.33 $ 55.33 (No Medicare) Family 109.34 121.34 (No Medicare) Blue Cross Option Employee Only 72.76 80.76 (Nos Medicare) Family 124,91 136.91 (No Medicare) - 27 - Contra Costa Health Plan Option Employee Only 48.43 56.43 (No Medicare) Family 113.91 125.91 (No Medicare) H.E.A.L.S. Health Plan Option Employee Only 60.00 68.00 (No Medicare) Family 115.00 127.00 (No Medicare) Corresponding Medicare rates for employees covered under this Memorandum of Understanding shall be as follows: for Employee Only on Medicare by taking the Employee Only rate for the option selected and subtracting the monthly Part B Medicare premium withheld from Social Security payments for one enrollee; for Employee and Dependent(s) with one member on Medicare by taking the Employee and Dependent(s) rate for the option selected and subtracting the monthly Part B Medicare premium withheld from Social Security payments for one enrollee; for Employee and Dependent(s) with two members on Medicare by taking the Employee and Dependent(s) rate for the option selected and subtracting the monthly Part B Medicare premium withheld from Social Security payments for two enrollees; pro- vided, however, that the minimum employee health plan contribution will be $1.00 per month. Any increase in the Health Plan costs that occur during the duration of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be borne by the employee. The County's contribution to the Health Plan premium is payable for any month in which the employee earns compensation for actual time worked or is credited for work time through vacation or sick leave accruals. However, if an employee does not earn enough compensation in a month to pay the employee share of the premium, the employee must make up the difference by remitting the amount delinquent to the Auditor-Controller. An employee is thus covered by the Health Plan for the month in which compensation is earned and the subsequent month. The responsibility for this payment rests with the employee. If payment is not made, the employee shall be dropped from the Health Plan. An employee Who is on approved leave of absence may convert to individual Health Plan coverage within thirty (30) days of the commencement of leave. An employee who terminates County employment who has earned compensation for actual time worked or is credited for time worked through vacation or sick leave accruals, is only covered through the month in which he is credited with compensation. An employee who terminates County employment may convert to individual Health Plan coverage. - 28 - Upon retirement, employees may remain in the same County group medical plan if immaedately before their retirement they are either active subscribers to the County Health Plan or if on authorized leave of absence without pay they have retained individual conversion membership from the County plan. Section 18 Probationa" Period 18.1 Duration. All appointments from officially promulgated employment lists for original entrance or promotion shall be subject to a probationary period. This period shall be from six (6) months to two (2) years duration. 18.2 Listed below are those classes represented by the Union which have probation periods in excess of six (6) months. None 18.3 When the probationary period for a class is changed, only new appointees to positions in the classification shall be subject to the revised probationary period. 18.4 The probationary period shall date from the time of appointment to a permanent position after certification from an eligible list. It shall not include time served under provisional appointment or under appointment to limited term positions or any period of continuous leave of absence without pay or period of work connected disability exceeding fifteen (15) calendar days. For those employees appointed to permanent-intermittent positions with a six (6) months probation period, probation will be considered completed upon serving one-thousand (1 ,000) hours after appointment except that in no instance will this period be less than six (6) calendar months from the beginning of probation. If a permanent-interaittent probationary employee is reassigned to full-time, credit toward probation completion in the full-time position shall be prorated on the basis of one hundred seventy-three (173) hours per month. 18.5 ReJection During Probation. An employee who is rejected during the probation period and restored to the eligible list shall begin a new probationary period if subsequently certified and appointed. A. Alpeal from rejection. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, an employee (probationer) shall have the right to appeal from any rejection during the probationary period based on political or religious affiliations or opinions, Union activities, or race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, or sexual orientation. B. The appeal must be written, must be signed by the employee and set forth in facts by which it is claimed that grounds for appeal exist under subsection (A) and must be V led through the Director of Personnel to the Merit Board by 5.00 p.m. on the 7th calendar day after the date of delivery to the employee of notice of rejection. -- 29 - ?I//O&Y C. The Merit Board shall consider the appeal, and if it finds probable cause to believe that the rejection may have been based on grounds prohibited in subsection (A), it may refer the matter to a Hearing Officer for hearing, recommended findings of fact, conclusions of law and decision, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Merit . Board rules in which proceedings the rejected probationer has the burden of proof. D. If the Merit Board finds no probable cause for a hearing, it shall deny the appeal. If, after hearing, the Merit .Board upholds the appeal, it shell direct that the appellant be reinstated in the position and the appellant shall begin a new probationary period unless the Merit Board specifically reinstates the former period. 18.6 Regular Appointment. The regular appointment of a probationary employee shall begin on the day following the end of the probationary period, subject to the condition that the Director of Personnel receive from the appointing authority a statement in writing that the services of the employee during the probationary period were satisfactory and that the employee is recommended for permanent appointment. A probationary employee may be rejected at any time during the probation period without regard to the Skelly provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding, without notice and without right of appeal or hearing. If the appointing authority has not returned the probation report, a probationary employee may be rejected from the service within a reasonable time after the probation period for failure to pass probation. If the appointing authority fails to submit in a timely manner the proper written documents certifying that a probationary employee has served in a satisfactory manner and later acknowledges it was his or her intention to do so, the regular appointment shall begin on the day following the end of the probationary period. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding, an employee rejected during the probation period from a position in the Merit System to which the employee had been promoted or transferred from an eligible list, shall be restored to a position in the department from which the employee was promoted or transferred. An employee dismissed for other than disciplinary reasons within six (6) months after being promoted or transferred from a position in the Merit System to a position not included in the Merit System shall be restored to a position in the classification in the department from which the employee was promoted or transferred. A probationary employee who has been rejected or has resigned during probation shall not be restored to the eligible list from which the employee was certified unless the employee receives the affirmative recommendation from the appointing authority and is certified by the Personnel Director whose decision is final. The Director of Personnel shall not certify the name of a person restored to the eligible list to the same appointing authority by whom the person was rejected from the sams eligible list, unless such certification is requested in writing by the appointing authority. 18.7 Layoff During Probation. An employee who is laid off during probation, if reemployed in the same class by the same department, shall be required to complete only the balance of the required probation. - 30 - If reemployed in another department or in another classification, the employee shall serve a full probationary period. An employee appointed to a permanent position from a layoff or reemployment list is subject to a probation period if the position is in a department other than the department from which the employee separated, displaced, or voluntarily demoted in lieu of layoff. An appointment from a layoff or reemployment list is not subject to a probation period if the position is in the department from which the employee separated, displaced or voluntarily demoted in lieu of layoff. 18.8 Refection During Probation of Layoff Employee. An employee who has achieved permanent status in the class before layoff and who subsequently is appointed from the layoff list and then rejected during the probation period shall be automatically restored to the layoff list, unless discharged for cause, if the person is within the period of layoff eligibility. The employee shall begin a new probation period of subsequently certified and appointed in a different department or classification than that from which the employee was laid off. Section 19 Promotion 19.1 Promotion shall be by competitive examination unless otherwise provided in this Memorandum of Understanding. 19.2 Promotion PolicX. The Director of Personnel, upon request of an appointing authority, shall determine whether an examination is to be called on a promotional basis. 19.3 Oven Exam. If an examination for one of the classes represented by the Union is proposed to be announced on an open only basis, the Director of Personnel shall give five (5) days prior notice of such proposed announcement and shall meet at the request of the Union to discuss the reasons for such open announcement. 19.4 Promotion via Reclassification without Examination. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section, an employee may be promoted from one olassifi- cation to a higher classification and his position reclassified at the request of the appointing authority and under the following conditions: A. An evaluation of the position(s) in question must show that the duties and responsibilities have significantly increased and constitute a higher level of work. B. The incumbent of the position must have performed at the higher level for one (1) year. C. The incumbent must meet the minimum education and experience requirements for the higher class. D. The action must have approval of the Personnel Director. E. The Union approves such action. The appropriate rules regarding probationary status and salary on promotion are applicable. - 31 - - IA 19.5 Requirement's for PromotionalStandirsg. In order to qualify for an examination called on a promotional bards, an employee must have probationary or permanent status in the merit system and must possess the minimum qualifications for the class. Applicants will be admitted to promotional examination's only if the requirements are met on or before the final filing date. If an employee who is qualified on a promotional employment list is separated from the merit system, except by layoff, the employee's name shall be removed from the promotional list. 19.6. Seniority Credits. Employees who have qualified to take promotional examinations and who have earned a total score, not including seniority credits, of seventy percent (70x) or more, shall receive, in addition to all other credits, five one-hundredths of one percent (.05P for each completed month of service as a permanent County employee continuously preceding the final date for filing application for said examination. For purposes of seniority credits, leaves of absence shall be considered as service. Seniority credits shall be included in the final percentage score from which the rank on the promotional list is deter- mined. No employee, however, shall receive more than a total of five percent (5x) credit for seniority in any promotional examination. 19.7 County employees who are required as part of the promotional examination process to take a physical examination shall do so on County time at County expense. Section 20 Transfer 20.1 The following conditions are required in order to qualify for transfer: (a) The position shall be in the same class, or if in a different class shall have been determined by the Director of Personnel to be appropriate for transfer on the basis of minimum qualifications and qualifying procedure; (b) the employee shall have permanent status in the merit system and shall be in good standing; (c) the appointing authority or authorities involved in the transaction :hell have indicated their agreement in writing; (d) the employee concerned shall have indicated agreement to the change in writing; (e) the Director of Personnel shall have approved the change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfer may also be accomplished through the regular appointment procedure provided that the individual desiring transfer has eligibility on a list for a class for which appointment is being considered. 20.2 Any employee or appointing authority who desires to initiate a transfer may inform the Director of Personnel in writing of such desire stating the reasons therefor. The Director of Personnel shall if he or she considers that the reasons are adequate and that the transfer will be for the good of the County 'service and the parties involved, infarct the appointing authority or authorities concerned and the employee of the proposal and may take the initiative in accomplishing the transfer. Section 21 Resignations Rn employee's voluntary termination of service is a resignation. Written resignations shall be forwarded to the Personnel Department by the appointing authority immediately on receipt, and shall indicate the effective date of termination. Oral resignation shall be immediately confirmed by the appointing authority in writing to the employee and to the Personnel Department and shall indicate the effective date of termination. - 32 21 .1 Reaion in Good Standing. A resignation giving the appointing authority written notice at least two (2) weeks in advance of the last date of service (unless the appointing authority requires a longer period, up to four (4) weeks, for a specific reason, or consents to the employee's terminating on shorter notice) is a resignation in good standing. 21 .2 Constructive Resignation. A constructive resignation occurs and is effective when. A. An employee has been absent from duty for ten (10) consecutive working days without leave, and; B. Ten (10) more consecutive days have elapsed without response by the employee after the mailing of a notice of resignation by the appointing authority to the employee at the employee's last known address. 21.3 Effective Resignation. A resignation is effective when delivered or spoken to the appointing authority, operative either on that date or another date specified. 21 .4 Revocation. A resignation that is effective is revocable only by written concurrence .of the employee and the appointing authority, except that an oral resignation rescinded in writing by the end of the workday following the oral resignation Will be accepted by the appointing authority. 21 .5 Coerced Resignations. A. Time Limit - A resignation which the employee believes has been coerced by the appointing authority may be revoked within seven (7) calendar days after its expression, by serving written notice on the Director of Personnel and a copy on the appointing authority. B. Reinstatement - If the appointing authority acknowledges that the employee could have believed that the resignation was coerced, it shall be revoked and the employee returned to duty effective on the day following the appointing authority's acknowledgement without loss of seniority or pay. C. Contest - Unless, within seven M'days of the receipt of the notice, the appointing authority acknowledges that the resignation could have been believed to be coerced, this question should be handled as an appeal to the Merit Board. In the alternative, the employee may file a written election with the Director of Personnel waiving the employee's right of appeal to the Merit Board in favor of the employee's appeal rights under the grievance procedure contained in Section 23 of the Memorandum of Understanding beginning with step o. D. DilRosition - If a final decision is rendered that determines that the resignation was coerced, the resignation shall be deemed revoked and the employee returned to duty effective on the day following the decision but without loss of seniority or pay, subject to the employee's duty to mitigate damages. 33 - Section 22 Dismissal, Suspension and Demotion 22.1 The appointing authority may dismiss, suspend or demote any employee for cause. The following are sufficient causes for such action; the list is indicative rather than inclusive of restrictions and dismissal, suspension or demotion may be based on reasons other than those specifically mentioned. 1. absence without leave, 2. conviction of any criminal act involving moral turpitude, 3. conduct tending to bring the merit system into disrepute, 4. disorderly conduct, 5. incompentence or inefficiency, 6. insubordination, 7. being at work under the influence of liquor or drugs, carrying onto the premises liquor or drugs or consuming or using liquor or drugs during work hours and/or on County premises, 8. neglect of duty, 9. negligent or willful damage to public property or waste of public supplies or equipment, 10. violation of any lawful or reasonable regulation or order given by a supervisor or Department Head, 11 . willful violation of any of the provisions of the merit system ordinance or Personnel Management Regulations, 12. material and intentional misrepresentation or concealment of any fact in connection with obtaining employment, 13, misappropriation of County funds or property, 14. unreasonable failure or refusal to undergo any physical, medical and/or psychiatric exam and/or treatment authorized by this Memorandum of Understanding, 15. dishonesty or theft, 16. excessive or unexcused absenteeism and/or tardiness. 22.2 Skelly Requirements. Notice of Proposed Action (Skelly Notice) . Before taking a disciplinary action to dismiss, suspend for more than five (5) work days, or demote an employee, the appointing authority shall cause to be served, either personally or by certified mail, on the employee, a Notice of Proposed Action, which shall contain the following: A. A statement of the action proposed to be taken. B. A copy of the charges; including the acts or omissions and grounds upon which the action is based. C. If it is claimed that the employee has violated a rule or regulation of the County, department or district, a copy of said rule shall be included with the notice. D. A statement that the employee may review and request copies of materials upon which the proposed action is based. E. A statement that the employee has seven (7) calendar days to respond to the appointing authority either orally or in writing. - 34 - Emp�loyee Response. The employee upon whom a Notice of Proposed Action has been served shall have seven (7) calendar days to respond to the appointing authority either orally or in writing before the proposed action may be taken. Upon request of the employee and for good cause, the appointing authority may extend in writing the period to respond. if the employee's response is not filed within seven (7) days or any extension, the right to respond is lost. 22.3 Leave Pending Employee Response. Pending response to a Notice of Proposed Action within the first seven (7) days, the appointing authority for cause specified in writing may place the employee on temporary leave of absence, with pay. 22.44 Suspensions without pay shall not exceed thirty (30) days unless ordered by an arbitrator, an adjustment board or the Merit Board. The thirty (30) day limit does not apply to suspension due to pending criminal charges as provided in 22.5 below. 22.5 Notice of Suspension 'Without Pay Due to Pending Criminal Charges. Before suspending an employee due to pending criminal charges, the appointing authority shall cause to be served either personally or by certified mail, on the employee, a Notice of Suspension Due to Pending Criminal Charges, which shall contain the following: A. A statement that the employee is suspended while criminal charges are pending or until the charges are dismissed. B. A statement of the charges upon which the suspension is based and of the facts by which such charges adversely affect the County service or conflict with continued employment. C. A statement that the employee may respond to the appointing authority either orally or in writing within seven (7) calendar days. D. A statement that disciplinary action may be taken after disposition of the charges. E. The Notice of Suspension Due to Pending Criminal Charges may include a Notice of Proposed Action (Skelly Notice) under Section 22.2. F. An appointing authority, upon giving notice as provided in this Section 22, may immediately suspend without pay an employee against whom there is pending a criminal charge which adversely affects the County service or conflicts with continued employment. Pending criminal charges exist when an employee has been arrested or has been named a defendant in a criminal complaint or indictement filed in any court. G. The Personnel Director may order lost pay restored for good cause, and subject to the employee's duty to mitigate damages, but not if the employee 1) is given a Notice of Proposed Action (Skelly Notice) and 2) is dismissed or otherwise disciplined for cause directly related to the charges within fourteen (14) calendar days after the appointing authority has knowledge of final disposition of the chargee. - 35 - 22.6 Procedure on Dismissal,.-Suspqnsion or Disci liner Demotion. A. In any disciplinary action to dismiss, suspend, or demote an employee having permanent status in a position in the merit system, after having complied with the Provisions of Section 22.2, where applicable, the appointing authority shall make an order in writing stating specifically the causes for the action. B. Service of 'Order. Said order of dismissal, suspension, or demotion shall be filed with the Director of Personnel, showing by whom and the date a copy was served upon the employee to be dismissed, suspended or demoted, either personally or by certified mail to the employee's last known mailing address. The order shall be effective either upon personal service or deposit in the U. S. Postal Service. C. gm2loyee A peals from Order. The employee may appeal an order of dismissal, suspension or demotion either to the Merit Board or through the procedures of Section 23 Grievance Procedure of this Memorandum of Understanding provided that such appeal is filed in writing with the Personnel Director within ten (10) calendar days after service of said order. An employee may not both appeal to the Merit Board and file a grievance under Section 23 of this Memorandum of Understanding. Section 2,3 Grievance Procedure 23.1 A grievance is any dispute which involves the interpretation or application of any provision of this Memorandum of Understanding excluding, however, those provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding which specifically provide that the decision of any County official shall be final, the interpre- tation or application of those provisions not being subject to the grievance procedure. The Union may represent the employee at any state of the process. Grievances must be filed within thirty (30) days of the incident or occurance about which the employee claims to have a grievance and shall be processed in the following manner: A. Step 1 - Any employee who believes that a provision of this Memorandum of Understanding has been misinterpreted or misapplied to his or her detriment shall discuss the complaint with the employees immediate supervisor, who shall meet with the employee within five (5) days of receipt of a written request to hold such meeting. If the issue is not resolved, the procedures hereinafter may be invoked. B. Step 2 - If a grievance is not satisfactorily resolved in step 1 above, the employee may submit the grievance in writing within ten (10) work days to such management official as the Department Head may designate. This formal written grievance shall state which provision of the Memorandum of Understanding has been misinterpreted or misapplied how misapplication or misinterpretation has affected him or her to his or her detriment, and the redress he or she seeks. A copy of each written communication on a grievance shall be filed with the Director of Personnel. The Department head or his or her designee shall have fifteen (15) work days in which to respond to the grievance in writing. 36 - C. Step 3 - If a grievance is not satisfactorily resolved in step 2 above, the employee may appeal in writing within seven (7) work days to the Personnel Director. The Personnel Director or his or her designee shall have twenty (20) work days in which to investigate the merit of the complaint and to meet with the Department Head and the employee and attempt to settle the grievance and respond in writing. D. Step 4 - No grievance may be processed under this Section which has not first been filed and investigated in accordance with paragraph (C) above. If the parties are unable to reach a mutually satisfac- tory accord on any grievance which arises and is presented during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding, such grievance shall be submitted in writing within seven (7) work days to an Adjustment Hoard comprised of three (3) Union representatives, no more than two (2) of whom shall be either an employee of the County or an elected or appointed official of the Union presenting this grievance, and three (3) representatives of the County, no more than two (2) of whom shall be either an employee of the County or a member of the staff of an organization employed to represent the County in the meeting and conferring process. The Adjustment Board ,shall meet within twenty (20) work days of receipt of the written request and render a decision. E. Arbitration. If an Adjustment Board is unable to arrive at a majority decision, either the employee or the County may require that the grievance be referred to an impartial arbitrator who shall be designated by mutual agreement between the employee and the Personnel Director. Such request shall be submitted within twenty (20) work days of the rendering of the Adjustment Board decision. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator and of the Court Reporter shall be shared equally by the employee and the County. Each party, however, shall bear the costs of its own presentation, including preparation and post hearing briefs, if any. F. The following arbitrators have been agreed to.- Joe o:Joe Henderson Adolph Coven Jack Griffith Jan Vetter Robert Burns 23.2 Scope of AdJustment Board and Arbitration Decision's. (a) Decisions of Adjustment Boards and arbitrators on matters properly before them shall be final and binding on the parties hereto, to the extent permitted by law. (b) No adjustment Board and no arbitrator shall entertain, hear, decide or make recommendations on any dispute unless such dispute involves a position in a unit represented by the Union which has been certified as the recognized employee organization for such unit and unless such dispute falls within the definition of a grievance as set forth in Subsection 23.1 above. (c) Proposals to add to or change this Memorandum of Understanding or to change written agreements supplementary hereto shall not be arbitrable and no proposal to modify, amend, or terminate this Memorandum of Understanding, nor any matter or subject arising out of or in connection with such proposals, may be referred to arbitration under this Section. Neither any Adjustment Board nor any arbitrator shall have the power to amend or modify this Memorandum of Understanding or written agreements supplementary hereto or to establish any new terms or conditions of employment. (d) If the Personnel Director in pursuance of the procedures outlined in Subsection 23.1 (c) above, or the Adjustment Board in pursuance of the provisions of Subsection 23.1 (d) above resolve a grievance which involves suspension or discharge, they may agree to payment for lost time or to reinstatement with or without payment for lost time, (e) If any award by an Adjustment Board of arbitrator requires action by the Board of Supervisors or the Merit Board before it can be placed in effect, the County Administrator and the Personnel Director will recommend to the Board of Supervisors or the Merit Board, as appropriate, that it follow such award. 23.3 The time limits specified above may be waived by mutual agreement of the parties to the grievance. If the County fails to meet the time limits specified in steps 1 through 3 above, the grievance will automatically move to the next step. If an employee fails to meet the time limits specified in steps 1 through 5 above, the grievance will be deemed to have been settled and withdrawn. 23.4 Compensation Com2laints. All complaints involving or concerning the payment of compensation shall be initially filed in writing with the Personnel Director. Only complaints which alledge that employees are not being compen- sated in accordance with the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be considered as grievances. Any other matters of compensation are to be resolved in the meeting and conferring process, if not detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding which results from such meeting and conferring process shall be deemed withdrawn until the meeting and conferring process is next opened for such discussion. No adjustment shall be retroactive for more than six (6) months from the date upon which the complaint was filed. No change in this Memorandum of Understanding or interpretations thereof (except interpretations resulting from Adjustment Board or arbitration proceedings hereunder) will be recognized unless agreed to by the County and the Union. 23.5 No Strike. During the term of this Memorandum of Understanding, the Union, its members and representatives, agree that it and they will not engage in, authorize, sanction, or support any strike, slowdown, stoppage of work, sickout, or refuse to perform customary duties. In the case of a legally declared lawful strike against a private or public sector employed which has been sanctioned and approved by the labor body or council having ,jurisdiction, an employee who is in danger of physical harm shall not be required to cross the picket line, provided the employee advises his or her supervisor as soon as possible, and provided further that an employee may be required to cross a picket line where the performance of his or her duties is of an emergency nature and/or failure to perform such duties might cause or aggravate a danger to public health or safety. 23.6 Merit Board. (a) All Grievances of employees in representation units represented by the Union shall be processed under Section 23 unless the employee elects to apply to the Merit Hoard on matters within its ,jurisdiction. - 38 - (b) No action under paragraph (a), (d) and (e) of Subsection 23.1 above shall be taken if action on the complaint or grievance has been taken by the Merit Board, or if the complaint or grievance is pending before the Merit Board. 23.7 The Union may file a grievance at step 3 on behalf of affected employees when action by the County Administrator or the Board of Supervisors violates a provision of this Memorandum of Understanding. Section 24 Bilinng ual Past A salary differential of fifty dollars ($50.00) per month shall be paid incumbents of positions requiring bilingual proficiency as designated by the appointing authority and Director of Personnel. Said differential shall be prorated for employees working less than full-time and/or who are on an unpaid leave of absence for a portion of any given month. Designation of positions for which bilingual proficiency is required is the sole prerogative of the County. Section 25 Retirement Contribution Pursuant to Government Code Section 31581 .1 , the County will continue to pay fifty percent (50%) of the retirement contributions normally required of employees. Such payments shall continue for the duration of this Memorandum of Understanding, and shall terminate thereafter. Employees shall be responsible for payment of the employees' contribution for the retirement cost of living program as determined by the Board of Retirement of the Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association without the County paying any part of the employees share. The County will pay the remaining one-half (1/2) of the retirement cost-of-living program contribution. Section 26 Training Reimbursement The County Administrative Bulletin on Training shall govern reimbursement for training and shall continue to limit reimbursement for career development training to $200 per semester or $150 per quarter, not to exceed $600 per year. Section 27 Mileage For For such expenses of authorized travel necessarily done by private automobile employees shall be allowed twenty-two (220) per mile up through four hundred (400) miles per month, and sixteen cents (160) for over four hundred (400) miles per month. The above rates shall be adjusted to reflect an increase or decrease in the cost of gasoline which shall be determined as provided below on the basis of the average price for "gasoline, all types" per gallon as listed in Table 5, "Gasoline average prices per gallon, U.S. city average and selected areas" for the San Francisco- Oakland, California area published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, hereinafter referred to as the "Energy Report". The above mileage rates shall be increased or decreased by one cent (1¢) for each fifteen cents (150) increase or decrease in the base price for gasoline which shall be defined as the average price of gasoline per gallon for July, 1979 as published in the Energy Report. Any such rate increase or decrease shall be effective the first of the month following publication of the index. The above formula rates include price increases reported since July, 1979. 39 - el f loe The mileage rate increase or decrease based on the Energy Report shall be contingent upon the continued availability of the official monthly Energy Report in its present form and calculated on the same basis unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. The County Administrator shall promulgate regulations covering these matters and the submission of account claims to the Auditor-Controller. Section 28 Childrens' Protective Services Respite Leave Without Pay Effective July 1 , 1981 , and during the term of this agreement, employees assigned to a position in the Childrens' Protective Services Program shall be granted ten (10) days respite leave without pay per fiscal year. Such leave shall be taken in increments of one (1) full day (8 hours) and shall be requested in writing. Conflicting requests for respite leave shall be resolved by the Department Head or designee with preference given to employees according to their seniority in the department, as reasonably as possible. Any balance in the ten (10) days respite leave which remains at the end of the fiscal year shall not be carried over into the next fiscal year. Section 29 Mental Health Screening Differential Employees represented by Social Services Union, Local 535 who work in the Mental Health Screening Unit of County Medical Services shall receive a differential per hour worked at a premium of 5% of the hourly equivalent of the base rate; provided, however, that in the event the conditions in Mental Health Screening are improved so that hazardous conditions no longer exist, such differential will no longer be applicable. Section 30 Conservatorship Differential The County agrees that any employee in a classification represented by Local 535 who is assigned to a position, the work function of which is in the Conservatorship Program of the Social Service Department, and the work assignment of which requires direct personal working contact on a regular daily basis which court- remanded clientele of the Conservatorship Program, as specified in Division 5, Part I, Chapter 3 of the Welfare & Institutions Code, shall receive a differential per hour worked at a premium of 5% of the hourly equivalent of the base rate while in pay status including paid vacation, paid sick leaave, and paid holidays. Section 31 Part-Time Differential If an employee in the Social Services Department, assigned to a permanent part-time position, is requested to work on his/her scheduled day off after the scheduled office hours, such employee shall receive, in addition to their regular base rate of pay, a differential of one-half (1/2) their regular base rate of pay. Section 32 Severance Pay Effective July 1 , 1981 and for the term of this Agreement only, permanent employees in classifications represented by Social Services Union Local 535 in, the Social Services Unit and the Community Services Unit (except for employees in Comprehensive Employment and Training Act classifications) for whom work ceases to be available as a result of a reduction in federal and state funding 40 - ?l //0(,Y of Social Welfare Programs, may elect to be paid severance pay at the time of separation and such separation from County service was not discharged for cause, resignation prior to the date work ceased to be available, transfer to any other position in the County, or whose separation from county employment is directly related to obtaining employment in any other Federal, State, County or Local Agency without interruption of employment. Employees eligible for an electing severance pay shall receive severance pay in the amount of Eighteen Hundred Dollars ($1 ,800.00) at the time of their separa- tion from County service. It is further understood that severance pay is not a part of the County Salary Plan and by accepting severance pay an employee relinquishes all claims to employment with Contra Costa County and any and all preferential reemployment rights and/or privileges with Contra Costa County and in particular waives the benefits provided in Article VII, Section 6, of the Rules and Regulations of the Civil Service Commission of Contra Costa County. Eligible employees electing the severance pay option will be required to complete the following Severance pay Separation Form: "I have received and read a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between Contra Costa County and Social Services Union, Local 535 (Social Services Unit) dated , such Memorandum of Understanding has been approved by the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County. I acknowledge that I have terminated by employment with Contra Costa County effective , and that such termination was legally proper. In consideration of and by acceptance of severance pay in the amount of Eighteen Hundred Dollars 01 ,800.00), I waive any and all preferential reemployment rights and/or privileges with Contra Costa County and in particular I waive the benefits provided in Article VII, Section 6 of the Rules and Regulations of the Civil Service Commission of Contra Costa County." (Employee's Signature) Section 33 Notice of New ftployees The County agrees to periodically mail to Social Services Union, Local 535 a list of names, classifications, and the designation of permanent employment category of new employees appointed to classifications represented by Local 535. Said periodic list will be mailed within the first five working days of every month. - 41 Section „34 Personnel Actions 34.1 Personnel Files. A. Inspection. Each employee, or an employee's representative so designated by written authorization of the employee, shall have the right to inspect and review the employee's personnel file upon request at reasonable times, and for reasonable periods during the regular business hours of the County. B. Documentation in the personnel file relating to the investigation of a possible criminal offense, medical records and information or letters of reference shall be specifically excluded from such inspection and review. C. Preemployment reference material shall be removed from the personnel file after one (1) year of continuous employment with the County. D. Medical records may be released to qualified medical authorities upon execution of a written release by the employee and with the concurrence of the County's medical authorities. E. An employee may request copies of other material contained in the personnel file. F. The employee shall bear the cost of the reproduction of copies. G. The County shall afford the employee the opportunity to respond in writing to any information contained in their personnel file. Such response shall be included in the employee's personnel file. 34.2 Counselling. A. Whenever an employee's Job performance and/or conduct becomes less than satisfactory, counselling shall be provided by the employee's first level supervisor. Such counselling shall specifically state the unsatisfactory nature of the employee's performance and/or conduct and specific ways in which the employee can bring such performance and/or conduct up to the satisfactory level. B. Said counselling shall be provided as soon as possible after the occurrence of the less than satisfactory performance and/or conduct. No adverse action shall be taken by the County against any employee unless such counselling has been provided and time for i improvement has been given. C. The employee's first level supervisor shall prepare written documentation of such counselling and provide a copy of the documentation to the employee. D. The foregoing shall not apply to probationary employees or in those cases where immediate disciplinary action is necessary. - 42 -- 1//O(Ooy 34.3 Copies. A. The County shall provide the employee with copies of all performance evaluation reports and letters of reprimand or warning or other negative material prior to the placement of such documents in the employee's departmental personnel file. B. Upon written request of the employee, copies of letters of reprimand or warning shall be sent to the Union. Section 355,Safety Program Health and safety standards shall be maintained in all County facilities to a maximum degree consistent with the conduct of efficient operations. The Social Service Department shall operate a department-wide employee health and safety program. This program shall consist of: 1 . A central department Safety Committee comprised of one (1) member appointed by Local 535 from each major building location, one (1) management employee from each major building location, and other employee organization representatives, and the Department Personnel Officer, or designee. The Department Personnel Officer, or designee, will service as chairperson. The committee shall meet at least quarterly. 2. All Committee members will receive training in accident investigation and prevention and in safety awareness. 3. Committee recommendations shall be reported to and reviewed by the Department Head who shall respond, in writing, to all recommendations. 4. Individual building safety problems shall be discussed between the management employee responsible for building problems, or the Deparment Personnel Officer, and the Safety Committee member, steward or employee. Such problems will be reported to the Central Safety Committee at its next meeting. Section 36 Flexible Staffing 36.1 Certain positions may be designated by the Personnel Director as flexibly staffed positions. Positions are generally allocated at the first level of the ,fob series when vacated. When the position is next filled and an incumbent of one of these positions meets the minimum qualifications for the I next higher level and has met appropriate competitive requirements he/she may then be promoted to the next higher classification within the ,job series without need of a classification study. The following job classifications are flexibly staffed. t Eligibility Worker I to 'Eligibility Worker II Social Casework Specialist I to Social Casework Specialist II - 43 - Open examinations at either level in the above mentioned classifications shall be administered upon the request of the Department dead and approval of the Director of Personnel. 36.2 Continuous Testing for Flexibly, Staffed Classes. Employees in a flexible staffed job series which have been determined by the Director of Personnel as appropriate for continuous testing may apply for promotion to the next higher classification level as follows: Applicants must file the regular personnel Department Application for Examination Form and where applicable, the appropriate supplemental questionnaire with the Personnel Department. The first Friday in each month is the filing deadline for any candidate who meets the minimum qualifications at any time during that month. The names of accepted applicants will be placed on the eligible list by the first working day of the following month. Employees who file applications must notify their supervisor and their departmental personnel officer. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as making a promotion automatic or automatically effective on the first of the month following the filing of an application. It is the responsibility of the Department that wishes to promote employees in flexibly staffed positions to submit a personnel request (certification request) prior to the first day of the month in which they wish to promote the employee. Personnel requests for promotion of employees to become effective on the first of the month must be in the Personnel Department by the last working day of the prior month. It is the employees responsibility to submit applications for promotion sufficiently in advance to assure receipt in the Personnel Office by the first Friday of the month in which they become eligible for promotion. If an error occurs in the Personnel Department which causes a delay in the processing of an application, said error shall be corrected and the employee shall be placed on the eligible list retroactively to the first of the month following his/her eligibility. If an operating department verifies in writing the intent to promote an employee on the first of the month following eligibility, said appointment shall be made retroactive to the first of the month following his/her eligibility. Section 3TCareer Ladder The County agrees to the concept of a career ladder which will enhance the opportunities for persons in eligibility worker classification to attain positions as social workers. Section 3$ Workload Distribution 3$.1 The Social Service Department shall continue to review the amount and nature of work in its operating units and shall initiate geographical reassign- ment of employees necessary to proportion and more closely balance the number of available employees in each classification with the anticipated ampunt and nature of work in operating units throughout the department. If an imbalance occurs and the Department determines to correct the imbalance by involuntary E reassignment, the Department shall identify the district from which the reassignment shall be made and the least senior employee in the identified district and in the classification in which the imbalance exists shall be f 44 4 f reassigned unless the position requires special skills and/or training. The Department shall continue to review the number and nature of cases in its operating units each three months and initiate such reassignment as deemed necessary. Reassignments shall not be used as a replacement for disciplinary procedures. 38.2 There shall be a Workload Committee in the Social Service Department consisting of six (6) representatives of the department and six {6} representatives of Local 535 who shall meet to share information, to discuss the existing amount and nature of work in services programs and categorical aid programs, and to make recommendations regarding the balancing of the number of available employees in each classification with the anticipated amount in nature of work in the operating units throughout the Department. The Workload Committee shall meet once each month. Recommendations by the Workload Committee shall be forwarded for review to the Department Head who shall respond to such recommendations within 30 days. If a review of the number and nature of cases in operating units throughout the department shows an imbalance in the available number of employees, the Social Services Department shall take such measures as deemed necessary to proportion the amount and nature of work throughout the Department within one-hundred and twenty (120) days from the date such imbalance is determined to exist. 38.3 In each classification series, seniority for reassignment purposes shall be determined by date of hire into that series as defined below: Eligibility Series; Eligibility Worker I, Eligibility Worker II, Eligibility Work Specialist. Social Work Series: Vocational Counselor Trainee, Social Worker Trainee, Social Worker I, Social Worker II, Social Worker III, Vocational Counselor. Casework Specialist Series< Social Casework Specialist I, Social Casework Specialist II. 38.4. If an employee is reassigned involuntarily, that employee shall possess the required language skills in the event the vacancy involves a position identified as bilingual. 38.5 The Social Service Department shall commence by December 15, 1981, through the Workload Committee, a study of the distribution and difficulty of bilingual cases. Section 32 Reassignment 39.1 The Social Service Department shall continue a vacancy information system which will list vacant positions which the Department has determined will be filled by interdepartmental reassignment. Positions shall be listed for five (5) working days prier to filling the position. Permanent employee's desirous of reassignment to a position in the same classification in another work location, shall submit a request in writing to the Social Service Department Personnel Office on the appropriate forms. Such request will stay in effect for ninety (90) days from the date it is submitted. When it is determined that a vacant position will be filled by interdepartmental transfer, the Department will determine from which district the transfer will be made based upon the amount and nature of work, - 45 and the names of people from that district in the appropriate classifications who have indicated a desire to transfer will be submitted to the supervisor who will make a selection from the five (5) most senior individuals referred. This procedure shall not apply to positions in specially funded projects or special assignments of limited duration. 39.2 In each classification series seniority for reassignment purposes shall be determined by date of hire into that series as defined below: Eligibility Series: Eligibility Worker I, Eligibility Worker II, Eligibility Work Specialist. Social Work Series. Vocational Counselor Trainee, Social Worker Trainee, Social Worker I, Social Worker II, Social Worker III, Vocational Counselor. Casework Specialist {Series: Social Casework Specialist I, Social Casework Specialist II. 39.3 If an employee is reassigned voluntarily, that employee shall possess required language skills in the event the vacancy involves a position identified as Bilingual. 39.14 Reassignment shall not be used as a replacement for disciplinary procedures. Section 140 Staggered Work Schedule 140.1 The Social Service Department shall continue to operate a staggered work schedule plan. Office hours shall remain open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. , Monday through Friday. Permanent full-time employees shall have the option to select, subject to prior approval of the department, an eight-hour day, forty-hour workweek schedule consisting of work hours which may be other than the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. work schedule. The following shall serve as the basic criteria for the staggered shift: A. All employees must be present at their office or otherwise engaged in the duties of their position during the core hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. B. Work schedules must remain within the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. C. The selected staggered work schedule shall consist of the same hours of work each day except for when a schedule including one varying eight hour workday is necessary to provide "officer of the day" coverage or for other specific circumstances in which the department determines that such a varying schedule is appropriate. The decision of the Department dead or designee shall be final. D. Lunch periods of one (1) or one half (1/2) flour shall be scheduled. In the event that the employee desires to change the scheduled lunch hour from one (1) hour to one half (1/2) hour, or from one half (1/2) hour to one (1) hour, that change must be approved in advance by the Department Head or designee. Lunch periods shall be taken within one (1) hour of the midpoint of the employee's scheduled workday. - 46 - E. Each work unit designated by placement under a single line supervisor shall have atleast one line worker in the office during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each such unit shall also have at least one additional line worker in the office or otherwise engaged in the duties of their positions during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There are two situations in which exceptions may be made to these minimum coverage provisions. Units which are placed under a single supervisor but which are split between two or more buildings may be clustered with another unit of a like program function in the immediate work areas of the same building for the purpose of maintaining minimum coverage during the time period between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. A unit of three or fewer workers may be clustered with another unit of a like program function in the immediate work area for purpose of maintaining minimum coverage, provided that the total number of workers in the units so clustered shall not exceed eight F. Each employee's proposed staggered schedule must be submitted in writing and approved by the Department Head or designee prior to implementation. G. Changes in staggered schedules shall be requested in writing and must have the approval of the Department Mead or designee prior to implementation. H. Conflicting requests for schedules shall be resolved by the Department Head whose decision shall be final. I. In the event coverage within a location becomes temporarily reduced as a result of scheduling revisions or absenteeism, employees will be expected to assure that the necessary functions are perforated, particularly the answering of telephones. J. It is understood that an individual employee's schedule may be changed due to the needs of the department. K. In the event this staggered scheduling provision is found by the department to be inconsistent with the needs of the department, the department shall so advise representatives of Vocal 535 and the County and the Union shall meet and confer in an attempt to resolve the inconsistency. 40.2 The Public Health Division of the Health Services Agency shall institute, within clinic and caseload requirements, a staggered hours work schedule plan in which permanent full-time Social Workers and Eligibility Workers shall have the option to request, subject to prior approval of the Department Head or designee, an eight hour day, forty hour work week schedule consisting of work hours which ma- be other than the normal 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The following shall serve as the basic criteria for departmental approval: A. All employees must be present at their office or otherwise engaged in the duties of their position during the core hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 47 - B. Work schedules must remain within the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. except for specific assignments which may require work beyond those hours. C. The selected staggered work schedule shall consist of the same eight hour work days as is necessary to provide coverage during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The decision of the Department Tread of designee shall be final. D. Lunch periods of one (1) or one-half (1/2) hour shall be scheduled subject to the approval of the Department Head or designee. In the event that the Social Worker or Eligibility Worker desire to change the scheduled lunch hour from one (1) hour to ane-half (1/2) hour, or from one-half (1/2) hour to one (1) hour, that change must be approved in advance by the Department Head or designee. E. Each proposed staggered schedule must be submitted in writing and approved by the Department Head or designee prior to implementation. F. Changes in staggered schedules shall be requested in writing and must have the approval of the Department Head or designee prior to implementation. G. Conflicting requests for schedules shall be resolved by the Department Head or designee, and this decision shall be final. H. In the event coverage within an area office becomes temporarily reduced as a result of program changes, scheduling revisions, absenteeism, or reductions in staffing, the department may adjust Social Worker and Eligibility Worker schedules and/or duties to assure that the necessary functions of the department are performed. I. It is understood that an individual employee's schedule may be changed due to the needs of the department. J. In the event this staggered scheduling provision is found by the department to be inconsistent with the needs of the department, the department shall so advise representatives of Local 535 and the County and the Union shall meet and confer in an attempt to resolve the inconsistency. Section 41 Reimbursement for Meal Expenses Employees shall be reimbursed for meal expenses under the following circumstances and in the amount specified: 1. When the employee is required by his/her Department Head to attend a meeting concerning County business or County affairs. 2. When the employee is required to be out of his/her regular or normal work area during a meal hour because of a particular work assignment. - 48 - ?I//ZY.Y 3. When the employee im required to stay over to attend consecutive or continuing afternoon and night sessions of a board or commission. 4. When the employee is required to incur expenses as host for official guests of the County, work as members of examining boards, official visitors, and speakers or honored guests at banquets or other official functions. 5. When the employee is required to work three or more hours of overtime; in this case he or she may be reimbursed in accordance with Administrative Bulletin on expense reimbursement. Meal costs will be reimbursed only when eaten away from home or away from the facility in the case of employees at 24-hour institutions. Procedures and definitions relative to reimbursement for meal expenses shall be in accordance with the Administrative Bulletin on Expense Reimbursement. Section 42 Modification and Decertification For the duration of this Memorandum of Understanding the following shall apply: 34-12.008 - Unit Determination (a) shall be modified in the first paragraph to delete the ten percent requirement for an employee organization intervening in the unit determination process and substitute therefore a thirty percent requirement. 34-12.012 - Election Procedure (b) shall be modified in the first paragraph to delete the ten percent requirement for any recognized employee organization(s) to appear on the ballot and substitute therefore a thirty percent requirement. -3-4-12.016 Modification of„ _Representation Units shall be modified in the first sentence by adding words to the effect of "most recent" to the date of deter- mination. This section shall be modified in the second sentence to require that petitions for modification of a representation unit be filed during a period of not more than one hundred and fifty days nor less than one hundred and twenty days prior to the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding in effect. The last sentence of this section shall be modified so that modification of a representation unit shall not negate the term of an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the County and the recognized employee organization of the unit prior to the modification proceedings. 34-12.018 Decertification Procedure shall be modified in the first sentence by adding words to the effect of "most recent" to the date of formal recognition and by requiring the petition be submitted during a period of not more than one hundred and fifty days nor less than one hundred and twenty days prior to the expiration of the Memorandum of Understanding in effect. Section43Length of Service. Definition, (for service awards and vacation accruals) The length of service credits of each employee of the County shall date from the beginning of the last period of continuous County employment (including temporary, provisional, and permanent status, and absences on approved leave of absence). When an employee separates from a permanent position in good standing and within two years is reemployed in a permanent County position, service credits shall include all credits accumulated at time of separation, but shall not include the period of separation. The Personnel Director shall determine these matters based on the employee status records in his/her department. - 49 Section 44 Service Awards The County shall continue its present policy with respect to service awards including time off, provided, however, that the type of award given shall be at the sole discretion of the County. Section 45 Permanent Part-Time Employee Benefits Permanent part-time employees receive prorated vacation and sick leave benefits. They are eligible for health, dental and life insurance benefits at corresponding premium rates providing they work at least 50% of full time. If the employee works at least 50% of full time, County retirement participation is also included. Section 46 Permanent Intermittent Emrployge Benefits Permanent intermittent employees are eligible for prorated vacation and sick leave benefits. Section 47 Permanent Intermittent Health Plan Effective October 1 , 1981 a permanent intermittent employee represented by Social Services Union Local 535 may participate in the County Group Health Plan if combined medical, dental and life insurance coverage wholly at the employee's expense. The County will not contribute to the employee's monthly premium. The employee will be responsible for paying the monthly primium appropriately and punctually. Failure to meet the premium deadline will mean automatic and immediate withdrawal from the County Group Health Plan and reinstatement may only be effectuated during the annual open enrollment period. Section 48 Provisional Employee Benefits Provisional employes, who are not permanent employees of the County immediately prior to their provisional appointment, are eligible for vacation and sick leave benefits. Effective October 1 , 1981 , said provisional employees may participate in the County Group Health Plan if combined medical, dental and life insurance coverage wholly at the employee's expense. The County will not contribute to the employee's monthly premium. The employee will be responsible for paying the monthly premium appropriately and punctually. Failure to meet the premium deadline will mean automatic and immediate withdrawal from the County Group Health Plan and reinstatement may only be effectuated during the annual open enrollment period. Section 49 Unfair Labor Practice 49.1 Either the County or the Union may file an unfair labor practice against the other. Allegations of an unfair labor practice, if not resolved in discussions between the parties, may be heard by a mutually agreed upon impartial third party. 49.2 Unfair Labor Practice - County. It is an unfair labor practice for the County to: - 50 - 1 . Interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights recognized or granted in this division, 2. Dominate or interfere with the formation of any employee organization or interfere with selection of a majority representative; 3. Contribute financial support to any employee organization; or 4. Refuse to meet and confer in good faith (with representatives of formally organized employee organizations on matters within the scope of representation) , or to refuse to consult with informally recognized employee organizations on matters within the scope of representation. 49.3 Unfair Labor Practice - Union. It is an unfair labor practice for the Union or their representatives or members to: 1 . Interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights recognized or granted in this division; 2. Coerce, attempt to coerce or discipline any member of an organization so as to hinder or impede the performance of his duties; 3. Discriminate against any employee with regard to the terms or conditions of membership because of race, color, creed, sex or national origin; 4. Refuse to consult, or meet and confer in good faith, with management representatives on matters within the scope of representation, or 5. Initiate, engage in, cause, instigate, encourage or condone a work stoppage of any kind or other disruptive activities which are detrimental to the conduct of county business and services. Section 50 Adoption The provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be made applicable on the dates indicated and upon approval by the Board of Supervisors. Resolutions and Ordinances, where necessary, shall be prepared and adopted in order to implement these provisions. It is understood that where it is determined that an Ordinance is required to implement any of the foregoing provisions, said provisions shall become effective upon the first day of the month following thirty (30) days after such Ordinance is adopted. Section 51 Scope of A reement and Se arabilit of Provision 51 .1 Scope of Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, this Memorandum of Understanding fully and completely incorporates the understanding of the parties hereto and constitues the sole and entire agreement between the parties in any and all matters subject to meet and confer. Neither party shall, during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding demand any change herein, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit the parties from changing the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding by mutual agreement. 51.2 Separability of Provisions. Should any section, clause or provision of this Memorandum of Understanding be declared illegal, unlawful or unenforceable, by final ,judgment of a court of competent ,jurisdiction, such invalidation of such section, clause or provision shall not invalidate the remaining portions hereof, and such remaining portions shall remain in full forge and effect for the duration of this Memorandum of Understanding. - 51 - 51 .3 Personnel Man „ement Regulations. Where a specific provision contained in a section of this Memorandum of Understanding conflicts with a specific provision contained in a section of the Personnel Management Regulations, the provision of this Memorandum of Understanding shall prevail. It is recognized, however, that certain provisions of the Personnel Management Regulations may be supplementary to the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding and as such remain in full force and effect. Section 52 Past Practices and Existing Memoranda. of Understanding Continuance of working conditions and past practices not specifically authorized by ordinance or by resolution of the Board of Supervisors is not guaranteed by this Memorandum of Understanding; provided, however, that only during the term of this Memorandum of Understanding which expires June 30, 1983, the Union may claim a violation of a past practice if the Union can demonstrate that such past practice exists by virtue of having been acknowledged and agreed to by Management, the alleged violation of said past practice will be subject to the grievance procedure. This Memorandum of Understanding shall supersede all existing memoranda of 'understanding between the County and the Union. Yater e•✓ a 1^f 1 .r `�.s.IIY. � � CON CO TA CO Y fit SOCIAL SERVICES UNION, LOCAL 535 By j 7 jJ yev fkut .9Y B By ByBy 11 ......� By -r6z By X i _ 52 Attachment A Social Services Union, Local 535 and the County have met and conferred in good faith regarding wages, hours. and other terms and conditions of employment for employees in project classes which except for the project designation would be represented by Social Services Union, Local 535. For example, Social Program Planner I is represented by Social Services Union, Local 535, therefore, it has been agreed that Social Program Planner I-Project will also be represented by Social Services Union, Local 535. Other project classes that are not readily identifiable as properly included in bargaining units represented by Social Services Union, Local 535, shall be assigned to bargaining units in accordance with the provisions of Section 34-12.015 of County Ordinance 73-32. The Union and the County understand that the meet and confer process with respect to the conditions of employment for project classifications is unique and therefore differs from other regular classes represented by Social Services Union, Local 535 in the following respects. 1 . Project employees are not covered by the Merit System. 2. Project employees may be separated from service at any time without regard to the Skelly previsions of this Memorandum of Understanding, without notice and without right of appeal or hearing or recourse to the grievance procedure as it applies to suspensions, demotions or discharge. 3. Any provision of this Memorandum of Understanding which pertains to layoff or seniority are not applicable to project employees. _ 53 _ ATTACHMENT B CLASS E SALARY LISTING PC0079.1 CEC3 CCOE 5 08128/81 SOCIAL SERVICES UNIT LEVEL SALARY RANGE CLASS TITLE X4VA. 9 H2 3'50• 1749.00 - 21269009 9 *CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER )(MYF9 9 H2 — 035. 12769CC - 15519009 9 *ELIGIBILITY WORK SPECIALIST XHWA. * Hl — 844* 1057900 - 12A49009 9 9ELICTOILITY WORKER I XHVA. . H1, — 960. 1187*CC — 1442.00. . .ELIGIBILITY WORKER IT 9KSB* . N2 — 249, 15P1.00 - 1921.00. . .HCME MAINTENANCE TRAINE91CRGAi+ It'ER X4'WA. r H2 — 350. 1744.04 - 21269009 9 .PUBLIC HEALTV SOCIAL WORKER XC1* 9 H2 — 277. 1626940 — 197690C9 9 .SOCIAL CASEWORK SPECIALIST I X0V99 « H2 _ 350. 1749900 — 2126.00. 9 *SOCIAL CASEWORK SPECIALIST II XTSC. . H2 — 350. 1749.00 — 21,26.00. . .SOCIAL PROGRAM PLANNER I XTSP . . H2 — 545• 2125.00 - 2583.04. . .SOCIAL PROGRAM PLANNER II X0WA9 9 H1, — 9609 1187*CO - 14429009 9 *SOCIAL WORKER I XOVA• 9 H2 •- 109, 1374.CC - 2671.00. . .SCCIAL VC'PKER IT IOTA. 9 H2 — 230. 1551900 — 1885.009 9 .SOCIAL 'CORKER III X07A. . H1 — 960. 11E7.GC — 1442.CC* . .SOCIAL WORKER TRAINEE X7'WA. . H2 — 230. 1551.00 — 18859409 9 *VOCATIONAL COUNSELLCR X77A9 9H1 -- 9609 11P790C — 1442.00a 9 9VCCATIONAL COUNSELLCR TRAINEE — 54 — ATTACMENT B (cont`d) CLASS E SALARY LISTING tt3l79. 1 CF05 CCCE D 09128181 CPPLNITY SERVICES LNIT LEVEL SALARY VANCE GLASS TITh X0WA. .Hl - 743 . 955.00 — 1161.00. . .CCMMLNITY AIME XD7A. .Hl - 640 + 862.00 — 1C4?*00. . .CCPPIJNITY AIDE TRAINEE XDVA. *Hl - 844• 1057*00 — 1284.00. . .SOCIAL SERVICE COMMUNITY ASSISIANT _ 55 _