NAPA COUNTY, CA – The Napa County Board of Supervisors has officially approved a new three-year contract agreement with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1021, the county’s largest union, representing more than 1,000 employees across a wide range of departments. The contract, ratified by union members with overwhelming support, aims to bolster employee retention and attract top talent through increased compensation and expanded benefits.
The agreement includes several key provisions, most notably an 11 percent increase in cost-of-living pay over the next three years. Employees will see a 4 percent increase in 2024, followed by 3.5 percent in both 2025 and 2026. In addition to salary raises, the county will also implement annual increases in its deferred compensation contributions to employee 401A accounts, enhancing the financial security of its workforce.
Other significant elements of the contract include an increase in bilingual pay, recognition of Indigenous People’s Day, and the introduction of a Winter Recess, during which all non-essential county operations will close from December 26 to December 31. The Winter Recess marks a new benefit aimed at improving work-life balance for county employees.
Joelle Gallagher, chair of the Board of Supervisors, emphasized the importance of public servants in maintaining the county’s operations. “There is no public service without dedicated public servants,” she said. “Their efforts are vital and enhance our county in countless ways. The salary adjustments in this agreement will boost our competitiveness for top talent by aligning our pay and benefits with those offered by other cities and counties in the region.”
In addition to the pay raises, the agreement also outlines changes to several other employee benefits. These include updates to the cell phone allowance, standby pay, uniform allowance, retirement cost sharing, and bereavement leave. While the county’s deferred compensation match will remain unchanged until January 2025 due to IRS regulations, the overall package is designed to offer a more comprehensive and attractive benefits structure for employees.
Ryan Alsop, Napa County’s CEO, emphasized that maintaining competitive compensation is key to providing quality services to county residents. “Napa County endeavors to be a model of excellence in managing our workforce,” Alsop said. “Keeping pace with the compensation requirements necessary to compete for, recruit, and retain the most qualified and talented employees is an essential practice that ensures the highest quality of service delivery for our county’s residents.”
The contract has been hailed as a positive step toward addressing the county’s workforce needs and maintaining high service standards. With SEIU Local 1021 representing employees in various roles, including clerical, maintenance, technical, professional, and supervisory positions, the agreement is expected to have a broad impact across Napa County’s operations.
Copies of the new Salary Resolution and the updated contracts with each union will be available on the county’s Human Resources website by Wednesday.
The SEIU Local 1021 contract serves as a demonstration of Napa County’s commitment to both its employees and the public it serves. As Alsop noted, “I believe the Agreement demonstrates our Board of Supervisors’ commitment to excellence in managing our business and workforce,” further praising the leadership of the Board in securing the deal.
The new contract is expected to strengthen the county’s ability to recruit and retain a skilled and dedicated workforce, which is critical to ensuring the continued delivery of essential public services.