TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Jennifer Schembri
AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: February 6, 2023
Approved Date
2/9/23
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO PAY PLAN AND TERMS OF A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN JOSÉ AND THE
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION, AFSCME, LOCAL 101
RELATING TO BASE PAY INCREASES AND NON-PENSIONABLE
LUMP SUM PAYMENTS FOR DISPATCHER SERIES
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution to:
(a) Approve the terms of a Side Letter Agreement between the City and Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 to:
1. Provide a 0.46% base pay increase to the following Dispatcher classifications, effective March 5, 2023:
i. Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee (8532)
ii. Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT/PT) (8514/8534)
iii. Senior Public Safety Dispatcher (FT/PT) (8513/8533) iv. Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher (8512)
2. Provide a one-time non-pensionable lump sum payment to eligible incumbents in the Dispatcher classifications, consistent with the terms of the Side Letter Agreement between the City and Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101
(b) Amend the City of San José Pay Plan to increase the annual pensionable salary ranges of the following Dispatcher classifications effective March 5, 2023:
1. Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee (8532) increased to $81,452.80 – $81,452.80
2. Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT/PT) (8514/8534) increased to $90,459.20 – $109,969.60
3. Senior Public Safety Dispatcher (FT/PT) (8513/8533) increased to $104,644.80 – $127,316.80
4. Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher (8512) increased to $121,284.80 – $147,326.40
COUNCIL AGENDA: 2/28/23
FILE: 23-259
ITEM: 2.9
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 6, 2023
Subject: Amendments to Pay Plan and Terms of A Side Letter Agreement Between the City of San José and the Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 Relating to Base Pay Increases and Non- Pensionable Lump Sum Payments for Dispatcher Series
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Adoption of the resolution approves the terms of a Side Letter Agreement between the City and the Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 (MEF) to allow for a special pensionable base pay increase for the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher classification series, as well as a one-time non-pensionable lump sum payments to eligible employees as provided in the table below:
Classification Pensionable
Increase, Effective
March 5, 2023
One-Time Non-
Pensionable Lump
Sum Payment
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee (8532) 0.46% $272.16 Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8514/8534) 0.46% $362.88 Senior Public Safety Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8513/8533) 0.46% $423.36 Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher (8512) 0.46% $483.84
To be eligible to receive the one-time non-pensionable lump sum payment, employees must have been employed in one of the classifications listed above as of June 26, 2022, and must be employed in one of these classifications during the pay period that the payment is made. Further, the City of San José Pay Plan will be amended to change the salary ranges for the classifications noted above to reflect these changes.
BACKGROUND
Employees in the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher series classifications are represented by MEF and are responsible for handling the full range of telephone answering and dispatch functions within the San José Fire Department. This work is performed 24 hours per day, seven days per week, in continuous operations.
Prior to March 30, 2014, employees in the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher series received a Holiday-in-Lieu premium pay because, due to the continuous operations of their public safety dispatching duties, they were regularly required to work on holidays. Article 10.1.13 of the MEF Memorandum of Agreement provides that, effective March 30, 2014, this Holiday-in-Lieu premium pay was rolled into base pay of these classifications through a 6.50% special pay adjustment at a time when the City observed 14 holidays, which equates to an approximately
0.46% increase per City-observed holiday.
On or about August 24, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 80188 recognizing Juneteenth as its fifteenth City-observed holiday.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 6, 2023
Subject: Amendments to Pay Plan and Terms of A Side Letter Agreement Between the City of San José and the Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 Relating to Base Pay Increases and Non- Pensionable Lump Sum Payments for Dispatcher Series
On January 27, 2023, the City and MEF agreed to the terms of a Side Letter Agreement to provide a base pay increase to employees in the Public Safety Radio Dispatcher series in recognition of Juneteenth being added as a fifteenth City-observed holiday (Attachment). The agreed upon base pay increase of 0.46% is consistent with the rate at which Holiday-in-Lieu was rolled into base pay effective March 30, 2014, as described above. In lieu of retroactivity to June 26, 2022, the City and MEF agree to provide a one-time non-pensionable lump sum payment to eligible incumbents in MEF Dispatcher classifications as provided in the table, above.
ANALYSIS
The following is a summary of the key provisions contained in the Side Letter Agreements:
Base Pay
Increase
Effective the first pay period after the agreements have been signed by all parties and has been approved by the City Council in open session, employees in the classifications listed above shall receive a special pensionable base pay increase in the amounts specified above. This will result in the top and bottom of the range of employees in these classifications being increased by these amounts.
One-Time Non-
Pensionable
Lump Sum
Payment
One-Time Non-
Pensionable
Lump Sum
In lieu of retroactivity to June 26, 2022, eligible incumbents in these classifications shall receive the following one-time non-pensionable lump sum payments:
Classification One-Time Non-
Pensionable Lump
Sum Payment
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee
(8532)
$272.16
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT)
(8514/8534)
$362.88
Senior Public Safety Dispatcher (FT / PT)
(8513/8533)
$423.36
Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher
(8512)
$483.84
To be eligible to receive the one-time non-pensionable lump sum payment, employees must have been employed in one of the classifications listed above as of June 26, 2022, and must be employed in one of these classifications during the pay period in which the lump sum payment is
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 6, 2023
Subject: Amendments to Pay Plan and Terms of A Side Letter Agreement Between the City of San José and the Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 Relating to Base Pay Increases and Non- Pensionable Lump Sum Payments for Dispatcher Series
Payment
(Cont’d)
made. This lump sum payment shall be made in the second full pay period after this agreement has been signed by all parties and approved by the City Council in open session, and shall be made based on the employee’s classification as of that pay period.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
No further follow-up with the City Council related to this action is anticipated at this time.
COST SUMMARY/IMPLICATIONS
The additional ongoing costs pertaining to the base pay increases for the MEF Dispatcher series are approximately $33,000 in the General Fund. In 2022-2023, the estimated costs for the base pay increase are $10,000 and the costs for the one-time non-pensionable lump sum payment in lieu of retroactivity is approximately $17,000. It is anticipated that the increased costs in 2022- 2023 will be absorbed in the Fire Department’s existing budget, and these costs will be factored into the development of the 2023-2024 Operating Budget.
COORDINATION
This memorandum was coordinated with the City Manager’s Budget Office and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the February 28, 2023 City Council meeting.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-010, City Organizational and Administrative Activities resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
February 6, 2023
Subject: Amendments to Pay Plan and Terms of A Side Letter Agreement Between the City of San José and the Municipal Employees’ Federation, AFSCME, Local 101 Relating to Base Pay Increases and Non- Pensionable Lump Sum Payments for Dispatcher Series
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
Jennifer Schembri
Director of Employee Relations
Director of Human Resources
The principal author of this memorandum is Bill Gold, Senior Executive Analyst in the Office of Employee Relations. For questions, please contact [email protected] or (408) 535-8150.
ATTACHMENT: Side Letter Agreement with MEF titled Base Pay Increase – Dispatcher Series
SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SAN JOSE
AND
THE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES’ FEDERATION, AFSCME, LOCAL 101 (MEF) BASE PAY INCREASE – DISPATCHER SERIES
Effective the first full pay period after this agreement is signed by all parties below and approved by City Council in open session, employees in the classifications listed below shall receive the following special pensionable base pay increase for holiday-in-lieu in recognition of Juneteenth being added as a City-observed holiday:
Classification Pensionable Increase
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee (8532) 0.46%
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8514/8534) 0.46% Senior Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8513 / 8533) 0.46% Supervising Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (8512) 0.46% This will result in an increase to the top and bottom of the salary range of employees in the classifications noted above. In lieu of retroactivity to June 26, 2022, incumbents in these classifications shall receive the following one-time non-pensionable lump sum bonuses:
Classification Lump Sum Amount
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher Trainee (8532) $272.16
Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8514/8534) $362.88 Senior Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (FT / PT) (8513 / 8533) $423.36 Supervising Public Safety Radio Dispatcher (8512) $483.84 To be eligible to receive this lump sum payment employees must have been employed in one of these classifications as of June 26, 2022, and must be employed in one of these classifications during the pay period in which the lump sum payment is made. This lump sum payment shall be made in the second full pay period after this agreement has been signed by all parties below and approved by the City Council in open session, and shall be made based on the employee’s classification as of that pay period.
This side letter agreement shall become effective on the first full pay period after this agreement has been signed by all parties below and approved by the City Council in open session. This side letter agreement resolves the parties’ meet and confer obligations outlined in the side letter titled Recruitment and Retention Discussions, dated August 6, 2021.
Attachment
MEF Side Letter – Base Pay Increase – Dispatcher Series January 25, 2023
For Employer: For Union:
City of San Jose MEF
Jennifer Schembri Date Cindy Harlin Date
Director of Employee Relations
Director of Human Resources
President, MEF
John Tucker Date
Union Representative, AFSCME, Local 101
1/26/2023
1/27/2023