2025-07-18 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board July 18, 2025 MS. BOTELHO: So, the function of our Labor Relations Division—the primary function is regarding or administration of the collective bargaining agreements. So, we do have eight different bargaining units within the County and our role here is to provide guidance to departments and departmental HR staff on the administration and application of the union contracts to make sure that everybody’s on the same page following contracts. And, in addition, we also—I am designated, by the Director, to hear employer-level grievances. So, we’re involved in the grievance process. We also—sorry, drawing a blank, ‘cause I don’t want to use my notes. So, grievances—oh, sorry—every two or four years depending on how long a contract—an employment contract is for, we participate in the negotiation process. So, we, at Labor, are responsible for costing out the different contracts so that the costs that are awarded by arbitration decision or negotiated are able to get—go to Council for approval of the funding. The other primary function that we oversee is the drug testing program for County employees for all bargaining units except for Bargaining Unit 12, which is Police—Police handles their own drug testing. Karla is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the drug testing program— scheduling, maintaining the records, making—communicating with departments on when drug tests are scheduled for. And then I have—as the designated employer representative, I have oversight of the program itself, to make sure we’re in compliance with federal regulations—and then, of course, with the collective bargaining agreements. And that’s about it. CHR. CABANAS: Any questions for Lee or Karla? MR. THOMAS: We do get occasional complaints where there’s a jurisdictional question and the jurisdictional question centers on whether they’re covered by employee union. Does that come to your attention when someone shows up and you have to make a decision and recommend to them, somehow, where they’re supposed to be? MS. BOTELHO: We do not make a recommendation, but the grievance process and the internal complaint process are two separate tracks. And so, for the internal complaint process, Human Resources is not involved in that procedure. So, no, we do not make a—our department does not make a recommendation. MR. THOMAS: Who does, then? A separate department? MS. BOTELHO: I guess would be the attorneys—the Corp. Counsel attorneys making the recommendation, looking at the merits of the case, determining if it falls within the jurisdiction of the Merit Appeals Board. And then, making the recommendation to you folks. It’s my understanding—I have never gone through the entire process but, lately there have been employees who file complaints both tracks—grievance and internal complaint procedures. I know for the grievance process, we would be arbitrator who would decide whether or not the Page 28