Tentative Agreement reached on Total Compensation for 2019-2020
Dear
fellow King County employee,
I
am pleased to announce that late yesterday, just as we prepared to celebrate
the Labor Day weekend, King County and the King County Coalition of Unions
reached a Tentative Agreement on total compensation for 2019 and 2020. This
timing is particularly fitting as we begin the weekend set aside to honor
workers, the labor movement, and the central contribution of working people to
building our communities, our economy, and our democracy.
The
Tentative Agreement covers almost 63 Collective Bargaining Units and
approximately 6,000 employees. Some of the key elements include:
- A 4% General Wage Increase in 2019,
and a 3% General Wage Increase split over two six-month periods in 2020
- Auto enrollment for new employees into
deferred compensation at 3% gross wages (with opportunities to opt out or
increase the amount)
- Insured benefits agreement that
reinstates the early retiree medical subsidy, improves the long-term disability
benefit, increases the vision hardware allowance, and adds an optional
short-term disability plan
- A $500
Coalition premium paid to eligible employees in 2020
We will provide more details on the Tentative Agreement to you as soon as we can.
I
applaud the Labor Coalition’s negotiating teams and King County management
whose tireless negotiations have delivered a compensation package that is fair,
sensible and innovative.
Our
strong partnership with labor was key to our ability to reach this Tentative
Agreement and continue to invest in our employees. Congratulations and thank you to all who
participated in the negotiations.
I hope you enjoy a relaxing Labor Day weekend
with family, friends and loved ones.
Sincerely,
 Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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