2019 - 2023 DSA Memorandum of Understanding: Article 35: Association Security

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What’s on this Page

• 35.1 Authorization of Dues Deduction
  • 35.1.1 Certification of Authorization for Dues Deduction
  • 35.1.2 Payroll Deductions
• 35.2 New Employees in Units
• 35.3 New Employee Orientation

Read Next: Article 36: Invalid Sections

35.1.1 Certification of Authorization for Dues Deduction

All employees in the Bargaining Unit represented by the Association may voluntarily join the Association and pay dues, initiation fees and general assessments, as well as payment of any other Association membership benefit program sponsored by the Association (hereafter referred to as “payroll deductions”) as determined by the Association. It is the responsibility of the Association to maintain a record of employees who have given their written consent to join and pay dues to the Association. The Association will certify to the County the names of employees who have given their written consent and the amount of such payroll deductions to be deducted.

35.1.2 Payroll Deductions

The County agrees to deduct the periodic payroll deductions from the paycheck of each employee who the Association certifies as authorizing the deduction. All sums deducted by the County will be remitted to the Association in an expedient manner at the intervals requested by the Association, together with the names of each employee for whom the deduction was made. The County will implement any change to an employee’s payroll deductions in the first full pay period following notification of such change by the Association.

If an employee member in the Bargaining Unit desires to revoke, cancel or change prior dues deduction authorization, he/she will direct that request to the Association. Any such dues deduction revocation, cancellation and/or change will be effectuated by the County only after the Association provides the County with written direction for such revocation, cancellation and/or change.

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The County will provide the Association President with a bi-weekly data run of all represented employees showing each employee’s name, department and section code, job classification, employee status, home address, home phone, work phone, cell phone, personal email address, hire date, pay rate, work location, and promotions and transfers into Association represented Bargaining Unit positions. The Human Resources Director and the Association’s designated representative  may agree to reasonable modifications to the employee information to meet, if possible, the Association’s representational needs. The Association recognizes the legal right of each employee to the employee’s privacy and agrees not to use any information obtained pursuant to these provisions for any reason not authorized by law, or to allow others to use the information for commercial gain, nor in a manner that would violate those rights. With respect to this promise, the Association agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the County of Sonoma, its officers, employees, and agents, from any claim, liability, or damage arising from the Association’s breach of its duty under these provisions. 

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Effective July 1, 2018

1. The County shall notify new employees hired into the Bargaining Unit represented by the Association that the Association is the recognized employee organization for the employee’s classification. Within 30 days of hire into the Bargaining Unit, one Association representative shall have the opportunity to make a 30-minute presentation at each new employee orientation program presented by the County Human Resources Department. In addition, the Association shall have the opportunity to make a 10-minute presentation at each new employee orientation program presented by any department orientation program (not to include payroll sign-ups). The County shall notify the Association of an employee orientation at least ten (10) calendar days in advance, except that a shorter notice may be provided in specific instance where there is an urgent need critical to the County’s operations that was not reasonably foreseeable. In addition, the County shall provide the Association with an electronic list of expected participants at least 72 hours in advance of the employee orientation. Each new employee shall receive a copy of the Association’s standard introductory packet, copies of which shall be provided by the Association.
2. The County shall provide the Association a copy of the sign-in sheet, including the Bargaining Unit, within five (5) business days after each new employee orientation program presented by the County Human Resources Department.
3. County employees hired into Bargaining Units represented by the DSA shall be released for up to one (1) hour during normal working hours on their first day of work as a Bargaining Unit member to meet with the Association’s representatives whether or not the County employee has previously attended an orientation program presented by the County Human Resources department.
4. One Association designee shall be granted up to one (1) hour of County release time plus reasonable release time for necessary travel to present on the Association’s behalf at the orientation program conducted by the County Human Resources Department or make-up sessions.
5. County management/designees shall be absent from the room during any orientation program or make-up sessions conducted by the Association with employees.

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