TO: Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
FROM: Suzanne M. Boyll, Director of Human Resources
DATE: August 8, 2025
SUBJECT: Ratification of Amendment to Article 9.4 - Availability of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Indian River County and Teamsters Local Union No. 769 Effective October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the County and the Teamsters Local Union No. 769 is for the term October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027. Article 9.4 - Availability contains language regarding payment provisions for employees who are required to work during a declared emergency. Over the past several years, the parties have had grievances regarding the pay related to declared emergencies. In an effort to resolve a current outstanding grievance, and to the simplify the pay during declared emergency, the parties have agreed to the attached Memorandum of Agreement to amend Article 9.4.
The amendment will provide the following compensation to employees who are required to work during a declared emergency from the time employees are relieved of duty and sent home until the all clear has been issued and employees return to work. “…bargaining unit employees who are required to complete their shift shall be paid at two (2) times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked during the same time period that the nonessential employees are not required to work. During this period, employees who are required to work beyond the end of their normal shift during the declared emergency shall continue to be paid two (2) times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked until all clear has been issued and employees have returned to work.”
Currently, employees are receiving two (2) times their regular rate of pay for hours worked during their normal shift and one and one-half (1.5) times their regular rate of pay for hours worked beyond their normal shift. This amendment would provide an additional .5 times their regular rate for hours worked beyond their normal shift.
Following ratification by the BOCC, staff would also update the County’s administrative policies to provide for the same level of compensation for non-union hourly employees who are also working during the declared emergency.
ANALYSIS
Based on Hurricane Milton, the projected cost of providing additional half time (.50) compensation for staffing required under the proposed amendment would be $31,328.24 for both teamsters and non-union labor costs. The cost may vary depending on the magnitude of the declared emergency.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
Funding will come from each department effected, but will be incrementally reimbursed based on applicable FEMA declarations.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
The Board ratified the current collective bargaining agreement on September 24, 2024.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Governance, Infrastructure, Public Safety
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff respectfully recommends approval of the Amendment and requests that the Board of County Commissioners authorize its Chairman to sign the Memorandum of Agreement, resolve the outstanding grievance providing for additional compensation, as well as authorize staff to update the Administrative Policy Manual to provide the same level of compensation for non-union hourly employees who are also working during the declared emergency.