REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 23, 2024
FROM
DIANE RUNDLES, Assistant Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Side Letter Agreement with Teamsters, Local 1932
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve a Side Letter Agreement between San Bernardino County and Teamsters, Local 1932 for an extension of the In-House Registry Pilot Program, effective January 12, 2024 through January 10, 2025.
(Presenter: Leonardo Gonzalez, County Labor Relations Chief, 387-5565)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this Side Letter Agreement (Agreement) will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
The In-House Registry Pilot Program (Program) will continue to provide a financial incentive of double time pay to County employees assigned to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator (Sheriff) to sign up and work additional shifts above the employee’s standard tour of duty. The rate(s) proposed by this Agreement can have multiple fiscal impacts.
Some overtime hours that are regularly performed by County employees will qualify for the Program and therefore be paid at a higher rate, thereby increasing costs above the current obligations. However, these increases will be offset by the reduction of the County’s use of temporary employees employed by an outside temporary staffing agency (Temporary Employees).
The overall reduction of the use of Temporary Employees will realize a reduction in costs as County employees are incentivized to work additional shifts, thereby reducing reliance upon Temporary Employees. The savings vary based on the skill level and seniority of the employees being deployed.
It is the goal of the County, ARMC and the Sheriff to utilize the Program so that it is cost neutral to the County, while providing additional pay for the County employees.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On June 28, 2022 (Item No. 52), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a Side Letter Agreement with Teamsters, Local 1932 (Teamsters) representing the Nurse Supervisory and Management Unit for the implementation of the Program and on January 24, 2023 (Item No. 30), the Board approved an extension of the Program. The Program has proved to be successful in decreasing staffing shortages, attracting eligible employees to fill shifts, and decreasing the use of Temporary Employees. The Program was set to sunset on January 12, 2024; however the County would like to extend the Program due to the ongoing nursing labor shortage. ARMC and Sheriff have continued to experience an increased demand to fill shifts. The County engaged in the meet and confer process with Teamsters regarding the extension of the Program, which resulted in the proposed Agreement.
This Agreement would allow for an extension of the Program and will continue to provide a financial incentive of double time rates, i.e., two times the employee’s base hourly rate, to eligible County employees at ARMC and Sheriff. Employees will be able to sign up and work additional shifts beyond their standard tour of duty. The proposed Agreement, if approved, would allow an extension of the Program through January 10, 2025.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Cynthia O’Neill, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 10, 2024; Human Resources (Diane Rundles, Assistant Executive Office, 387-5570) on January 11, 2024; Finance (Abigail Grant, Administrative Analyst, 387-4603) on January 11, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on January 11, 2024.