Madera County civil service panel sets SEIU hearing in April, adopts multiple job classifications

The Madera County Civil Service Commission on Tuesday set an April date for a hearing on a grievance filed by the Service Employees International Union and approved a series of classification changes for county positions, actions commissioners said will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final salary approval.

The hearing-setting item concerns a grievance the commission has tried to schedule for nearly two years. Sabrina Mendez, Department of Human Resources, told the commission, "Both our counsel and the appellant's counsel have agreed to an April date," and asked commissioners to hold several days in April for the hearing. Courtney Hawkins, representing SEIU, urged the commission to keep the dates, saying the grievance involves an alleged contract violation with potential monetary consequences for employees: "We are the representatives for the impellets in this matter." The commission approved the proposed April dates by vote.

The commission also approved a slate of classification actions proposed by Human Resources, including creation of a Deputy Director, Clerk-Recorder Services classification and a Deputy Director, Election Services classification; addition of Office Assistant I and II classifications; creation of Staff Services Analyst…