Hearing continues on Madera County firefighters’ mechanics’ standby-pay grievance; commission schedules deliberation

The Madera County Civil Service Commission heard five days of testimony in a grievance brought by three Madera County Fire Department employees seeking standby pay for after-hours availability.

The grievance names Jeremy Whitton, Roy Minnick and Ashley Diaz and contends the county failed to pay standby compensation outlined in the parties’ memorandum of understanding (MOU). The union argued the employees were required to remain available for callback and that the county either failed to approve standby or unlawfully substitute ‘‘take-home’’ county trucks in lieu of pay. The county contended the employees were not required to return to work when called, that the grievance was filed improperly or untimely, and that some alleged practices (service trucks in lieu of pay) were not lawful or were mischaracterized.

Union counsel Eileen Gonzalez, representing SEIU 521 in closing, told the commission the union filed the grievance after it first learned of member complaints on May 17, 2023, and formally filed on June 1, 2023. Counsel asserted the filing complied with the contract’s…