County workers rally against potential healthcare cost increases

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) -- Monterey County workers marched around Natividad Hospital to voice their objections over a proposed increase in their health care costs.

Silvia Torres has been working for Natividad for 28 years as a nurse assistant. She's already fighting to make ends meet, she said. 

“They don't pay us enough,” said Torres. “For many of us not even enough to pay your rent and they don't want to give us a raise. It's either we pay our car insurance or health insurance. That's how big the impact will be. Either you eat beans with tortillas all month because you don't have enough."

Service Employees International Union Local 521 represents more than 3,000 workers in Monterey County. Its members would suffer from any additional costs since many of them are living paycheck to paycheck, said the union. They argue these workers are a valuable part of the community.

That is really a number one reason why we're all here, to support each other,” said Yvette Carreon, Monterey County’s Behavioral Health Supervisor. “Because without the workers who are going to respond to the community.”

According to the union, these workers will have to pay “an estimated additional $697/year for individuals and an additional $2,021/year for family coverage to keep our health insurance in 2023.”

We reached out to Monterey County about the union's concerns. In a statement to KION, they responded, "Monterey County continues to negotiate in good faith with our represented employee groups and looks forward to a mutually acceptable resolution and completion of our labor contracts."

Union leaders said they hope they can come to an agreement with the county that makes sense for everyone. As one county employee told us, the fight is about more than money.

“Sometimes it's about your passion, about serving the community. And For the county to come in and say, we don't care about you guys. I don't think it's acceptable,” said Monterey County Social Service Aids Victor Caravez. 

The Service Employees International Union 521 says they filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against Monterey County on Aug. 26th.

According to the union, the county is "attempting to unilaterally and unlawfully increase employee healthcare contribution levels while the union contract was still in effect."

SEIU 521 says they have union members who would suffer from these additional costs as some are reportedly unable to pay their rent as it is.