(San Diego) – San Diego County Employees, who are represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 221, today announced they have rejected an offer from county administration to extend their current contract for two years. The county’s contract extension offer would have provided a small pay bonus, a small increase to the flexible healthcare benefit plan, and a reduction in the county’s portion of the retirement offset. By rejecting the contract extension, county employees will open their contract and begin contract negotiations in March 2011.

“Our bargaining team understands that times are tough, but felt that the county’s proposal did not address the needs of county employees, especially in wages and healthcare,” said SEIU Local 221 President Eric Banks. “We made a fair counter offer that included employees paying 100% of their portion of the retirement offset, but the county rejected that offer.”

The SEIU counter offer extended the current contract and completely eliminated the county’s portion of retirement offset, while giving employees a wage adjustment to compensate for their increased retirement costs. The counter offer also increased the flexible healthcare benefit to compensate for the rapidly increasing cost of healthcare.

“We are eager to go to the bargaining table and work with the county to achieve a contract that will be fair to county employees and ensure the needs of the public will continue to be served,” said President Banks.