LAKEPORT — The Board of Supervisors will hold a public impasse hearing for the negotiations between the union representing In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and the IHSS Public Authority (PA) will be brought to the Board of Supervisors today.
The board, sitting as the board of directors for the PA, will decide on a course of action now that the PA has declared an impasse in their negotiations with the United Domestic Workers of America (UDW).
“The impasse is saying that the parties have gotten as far in negotiations as they can,” explained County Counsel Anita Grant on Monday. “The board can determine how best to resolve the impasse and make a decision tomorrow.”
The IHSS PA, who is negotiating with the union for IHSS providers, was created to enhance services to the IHSS providers and recipients and serves as the employer of record for IHSS providers.
IHSS providers are represented by UDW. But another union, the California United Homecare Workers Union (CUHW), is the union designated to negotiate on UDW”s behalf.
Negotiations between the PA and UDW began in November 2003, but the union has gone through numerous internal changes, including staff and lead negotiators, which has helped to slow down the process.
Since bargaining has begun, IHSS providers have not received a raise above their minimum wage pay scale, nor any health benefits.
These are the two only items left on the table for discussion.
On March 3, a letter from the PA to the lead negotiator for UDW stated that, “After 26 months of negotiations and having resolved all issues except wages/benefits, the Public Authority [has] now made its final offer.”
An impasse meeting between the PA and UDW was held on May 17, but no representatives from the union attended.
“Let”s get this cycle finished and get a raise out there,” said District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey, who has been advocating to declare an impasse and give IHSS workers a raise since at least October 2005.
“Then, we can start negotiations again,” Robey said.
The impasse hearing will be at 1:30 p.m. today in the Board Chambers of the courthouse, 955 Forbes St.
Contact Terre Logsdon at tlogsdon@record-bee.com.
