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Supervisors Send Two Deputy Sheriffs MOUs to Full Board Without Recommendation After Fiscal Questions
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee moved two MOUs with the Deputy Sheriffs Association (separating rank-and-file and supervisory units) to the full Board without recommendation, asking for more data on salary comparability, fixed-post staffing and the controller—s fiscal analysis, which shows a net incremental cost over the contract term.
The San Francisco Budget & Finance Committee on Jan. 13 voted to send two memoranda of understanding with the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association to the full Board of Supervisors without recommendation, after prolonged discussion about staffing rules and conflicting fiscal analyses.
Department of Human Resources representatives told the committee the two three-year MOUs (effective July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2012) include one agreement for rank-and-file deputies and a separate agreement for supervisors and contain concessions on benefits and wages designed to produce budget savings in the near term. "These wage concessions have already begun," said Martin Grama of the Department of Human Resources, and the package includes temporary waivers of uniform allowance and longevity pay, conversion of some paid holidays to unpaid holidays, and a market-driven salary adjustment in the final year that the department projects will preserve jobs and yield multi-year economy-wide savings.
The controller—s office contested that presentation. "This MOU will result in a net incremental cost of $4,529,964," the budget analyst reported, noting that the incremental-cost method of accounting produces a different picture than the DHR methodology. The controller recommended continuing the ordinances to the call of the chair and directed DHR employee relations to meet and confer with the union about removing mandated 12-hour shifts and minimum staffing levels in the jails.
Supervisors sought clarity on the basis of the market-driven 3%–5% adjustment in the out year, previous arbitration that resulted in a 7.5% increase earlier in the contract, and whether minimum staffing and 12-hour shift provisions can be bargained away. Steve Ponder, identified as DHR—s compensation manager, said the market formula is inherited from prior contracts and uses a Bay Area county comparator group.
Public comment came from union representatives. Scott Osha, vice president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, urged retention of staffing minima as matters of officer and inmate safety. Rocky Lucia, outside counsel for the DSA, said union members made concessions and that the contract reflects "concessionary bargaining" in difficult fiscal times.
Supervisor Carmen Chu proposed — and the committee approved — sending the MOUs to the full Board without recommendation to give DHR and the union time to return with more information on comparable job classes, the salary survey, and commitments about working with the city on fixed-post staffing. The items are scheduled for the Board hearing on Feb. 2.
The committee—s action does not change the tentative agreement; DHR noted that concessions have already begun and paychecks have been adjusted pending Board action. The committee asked for supplemental materials from DHR and the controller so supervisors can compare methodologies and projected cost differences before the Board—s vote.
The committee—s discussion and motion left open whether the Board can or should demand changes to bargaining outcomes, with the city attorney advising that the Board lacks authority to unilaterally amend an MOU but can approve, reject or communicate preference to the parties.
