Membership in the Municipal Executives’ Association (MEA) is open to any person employed by an agency or department of the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF), the San Francisco Superior Court (SC) and the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) and whose classification has been assigned to a bargaining unit represented by MEA
Many managers assume that membership in MEA is automatic but, in fact, it is not. All members of a classification assigned to MEA for purposes of collective bargaining with the CCSF, SC and the SFHA are collectively represented by MEA whether they are dues paying members of MEA or not. MEA derives all of its funding from membership dues and it is required to provide representation to all employees assigned to it, regardless of whether they contribute financially to the association or not.
As you are probably aware, MEA was actively involved in Prop C’s landslide win in the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) November 2011 election. This victory is a reflection of the hard work put in by MEA members over months of analysis, discussion and collaboration as we struggled to balance the interests of the City’s residents and the hard-working public employees who serve them. Our broad based coalition, which included the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, all the unions and many non-profits and members of the business community was successful in creating a fact-based, legally sound, equitable measure that has made San Francisco the leader on comprehensive pension and health reform. The process undertaken in SF will serve as a model for municipalities around the country, and it would not have been possible without the support and hard work of MEA members. While this coalition was built around “pension and health care reform” it is our intent to continue to work together to tackle other serious public-policy issues facing San Francisco. We want taxes to be fair and produce revenues that match the program needs of San Franciscans. We want City funds to be spent intelligently and the services we provide to be top quality, efficient and helpful to the people we serve. It is in this spirit that we stepped up and worked to develop Proposition C and get it passed.
As we move into bargaining successor Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering managers at both CCSF and the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), the first step in developing MEA’s initial contract proposals is garnering input from MEA members about the issues that matter to them. To that end we have developed a member survey so we know what issues and priorities members want us to focus on during bargaining. We plan to keep members informed by sending out regular updates via email or the MEA Newsletter, as well as holding worksite or off-site briefings as bargaining gets underway. The last full negotiation in 2006 resulted in a three-year agreement that was subsequently extended three times and is now set to expire on June 30, 2012. The last Amendment (#4) was the PEC Agreement that resulted in the current twelve-day furlough program. We are now working to compile the results of the survey, analyze the economic climate, research comparable jurisdictions and develop proposals. Input from members is crucial to our effectiveness in this process. Only dues paying members are allowed to participate and vote on any successor MOU.
MEA has served and advanced the interests of San Francisco managers since its inception in 1944. In the early 1990s, we were selected by the approximately 1000 managers in dozens of classifications throughout City Government, the Housing Authority, and in the Trial Courts to be the “exclusive representative” for contract negotiations. Three of the benefits we have secured in bargaining with CCSF are unique to MEA. They are the Cafeteria Plan, employer paid life insurance and the Management Training Fund. More information is available about all of the benefits provided under the MEA contracts at our website www.sfmea.com.
It is a simple fact – the more city managers who become MEA members, the stronger MEA is when it comes time to speak out on public policy, represent individual managers, or protect and enhance the hard won wages, benefits and working conditions achieved in bargaining over the years. Your active participation in MEA is critical to our mission. We look forward to welcoming you to MEA!
Please consider taking a proactive step that serves to protect your individual interests as well as strengthening the collective voice and influence of managers throughout the City. Once you decide to join, please fill out the MEA Membership Application and the Payroll Deduction Authorization Form (PPSD-1001). Fax or email them both the MEA office at (415) 989-7077 or staff@sfmea.com.
MEA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION and “Payroll Deduction Authorization Form” (PPSD-1001)