AB 1048: Alameda Health System Hospital Authority: labor negotiations.

Existing law establishes an independent public agency to manage, administer, and control the Alameda Health System, which is known as the Alameda Health System Hospital Authority. The hospital authority is governed by a board that is appointed by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda. Existing law prescribes the characteristics of employees of the hospital authority who are and are not authorized to participate in the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association at the time the provisions authorizing the creation of the hospital authority become effective. Existing law generally prohibits a person employed by the hospital authority on or before the date these provisions became effective who was not qualified for membership in the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association at that time from becoming qualified for membership as a result of subsequent employment with the hospital authority.

This bill would repeal the above-described prohibition on certain employees of the Alameda Health System Hospital Authority qualifying for membership in the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association. The bill, during a specified time period, would require that a request to meet and confer by a recognized union or bargaining agent result in the reopening of an effective memorandum of understanding for the purpose of negotiating an agreement regarding the inclusion of certain people within the applicable bargaining unit in the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association. The bill would authorize a side letter or similar agreement to be negotiated in lieu of reopening the memorandum of understanding. The bill would prescribe membership tier requirements for people who are members of the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association and who transfer, reassign, or are hired, as specified, which would apply if the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent agree to include people within an applicable bargaining unit participating in the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association. The bill would delete a provision relating to people who are not members of the Alameda County Employees Retirement Association in connection with the characteristics of people who may become a member of the association, subject to a memorandum of understanding, as specified.