Union Members Rally For Contract Changes At CVWD

Mercedes Soto works at the Coachella Valley Water District and is also a union member; she says she fears that changes in the contract will have a negative effect on her family.

“I struggle to think about how it?s going to affect my family and even more so, how it?s going to affect 300-plus families,” Soto said.

The SEIU, or Service Employees International Union, says contract talks have broken down with 375 workers, and the informational rally was simply to express their thoughts and opinions.

The CVWD passed its $220 million budget earlier this month, and it reflects a reduced revenue, departmental cuts and no increases for water use in homes and businesses or sewer service for consumers.

Sandra Allen is an administrative assistant for the district and she is choosing to retire along with 19 other workers. She hopes to find another place where she can work and trust her retirement funds will be there when she?s ready.

“Any cuts to the employees are cuts to this community and for the district to take this stand for political ideologies, like I said, there is no financial need, by their own admission, its just shameful,” explained Allen.

The CVWD currently has a pension program, which pays 100 percent of the premiums for their employees, but according to Peter Nelson, president of the board of directors, they?re asking for employees to participate in contributing 2 percent of the amount this year, and 2 percent next year to manage future premium increases.

Nelson said, “What we’re trying to do is a fair compromise between the employees of the district and the rate payers of the Coachella Valley.”

But all they can do now is wait. Nelson also said that although the budget was passed on June 14 there may still be some negotiating with SEIU.