Merced County Reaches Labor Agreement with Largest Employee Group

During its meeting on September 24, 2024, the Merced County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2703, which represents five separate bargaining units. This agreement, which covers four of the five AFSCME units, comes after months of negotiations and will last through June 30, 2025.

Each of the parties were able to come to terms on various incentives, including increased County contributions to employee and dependent healthcare costs, additional holidays, additional vacation sellbacks, the creation of a telework policy, and other adjustments regarding rules and regulations.

"We are very grateful to have reached agreement with AFSCME," said Raul Lomeli Mendez, County Executive Officer. "From day one of our negotiations, the Board of Supervisors has been mindful of the challenges facing our employees, notably escalating health care costs which have been impacting our families, as well as those around the state and country."

Merced County will now increase its monetary contributions (for those employees covered by the aforementioned agreement) toward employee and dependent healthcare costs, at an estimated annual expense of $2,568,771. One of the four plans offered to employees will now provide coverage at no cost for the employee and 50 percent for their dependents. Healthcare enhancements was identified as a critical priority by employees.

"This was an especially challenging year for negotiations," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Rodrigo Espinosa. "I'm proud that we were able to find creative, sustainable solutions designed to benefit our employees."

AFSCME Local 2703 represents more than 1,000 County employees across a wide array of service areas and functions.