On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, BU324 members showed up at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting to lobby in support of Board Motion 72-B authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The Board could sense the unity of our members as they walked in prepared to give their testimonies. The motion unanimously passed on consent.
The following is the directive the Board gave the departments:
“The Board of Supervisors direct the Department of Health Services, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Office, the Departments of Public Health, Mental Health and Human Resources, to report back to the Board in 30-days on the impact of employee benefits and incentives in the recruitment and retention of healthcare employees, including:
- The feasibility and cost estimates for including MegaFlex benefits and other incentives for county doctors including, but not limited to, physicians, dentists and psychiatrists; and
- An analysis of the efficacy of including MegaFlex benefits and other incentives for county clinical staff in enhancing recruitment and retention efforts.”
This board motion is a step towards reinstating Megaflex benefits for all Los Angeles County physicians. We will keep applying pressure to achieve our goal. In the coming months, we will be calling on our members and their support to attend targeted visits to the Board and other activities.
Contract negotiations will continue every Tuesday for other proposals, including increases in standby pay and salary increases. The bargaining team will keep you informed as things develop.