After months of negotiations and a two-day work stoppage, the Superior Court of Alameda County has reached agreements with three unions, ensuring increased compensation for court employees. The announcement came following the state's approval of a budget that restored significant funding previously cut from State Courts, as per the Superior Court of Alameda County.
The contracts guarantee employees a 3% salary bump and a one-time stipend aimed at bolstering retention - a welcome reprieve after last year's funding cuts put salary increases in jeopardy. According to the Alameda County Superior Court, Judge Thomas Nixon expressed relief over the agreements, noting, "Every member of the Court staff is critical to our mission of providing equal justice to all and their work is worthy of proper respect and compensation."
Significantly, these agreements come on the heels of restored funding proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The new state budget brings back much of the $97 million slashed from State Courts last year, and if signed as expected, would mean the Superior Court of Alameda County recovers about 65% of the $4.4 million cut it previously faced.
The three unions, each with varied contract conditions, cover most court employees. Differences abound, but shared across the board is an ongoing salary increment, tied to future unrestricted state funding. SEIU 1021, the court's largest union, snagged an extra holiday and improvements to its vision insurance plan. Meanwhile, ACMEA members can look forward to more favorable sick-to-vacation time conversion rates, and for the court reporters represented by ACOCRA, they secure additional personal holidays and job security through a no-layoff guarantee.
The ratification of these contracts reflects the union's commitment to its members and underscores the fundamental role court employees play in the judicial system. Implemented starting July 1, the agreements vary in length, with the shortest expiring in June 2026 and the longest running through June 2027.
