San Diego Municipal Employees Association

July 2025 MEA Newsletter

A Message from MEA President Michele Chicarelli

Hello MEA Members,

It’s already July. The year feels like it is flying by. After the busy last few months, especially with the City Budget hearings, it’s no wonder.

I’m very proud of what MEA has been able to do around this FY 2026 Budget.

The last time the City Budget was this bad, employees (and the services they provide for residents) took the brunt of it, with facilities closing, programs cancelled, and vast layoffs. This time has been different.

Over the years, your union has done the work to educate Councilmembers on the work you do and how important it is to the residents. This Council consistently supports you, works with MEA leaders and staff, and truly values public service. That’s not an accident. It’s due to the work we have all done together as a union.

This issue of the MEA newsletter shares important information about the July 1 General Salary Increase, the Adopted City Budget, the Reduction in Force (RIF) process, and more. And, if you haven’t downloaded the MEA App, please consider doing so and also enabling push notifications.

As always, watch for communications from MEA in your email inbox or via push notification, and when you have questions or need assistance, reach out to your MEA Labor Relations Officers.

In Solidarity,

Michele Chicarelli

President, MEA Board of Directors

General Salary Increase – 5% more in your checks as of July 1

On July 1, all MEA-represented positions received a 5% General Salary Increase (GSI). Since July 1 fell close to the end of the 6/21 – 7/4 pay period, the July 17^th paycheck reflects only a few days of working at your new wage. You will see the full impact of the General Salary Increase in the next paycheck arriving on 8/1.

These are part of the terms under the current, historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached with the City after a multi-year advocacy campaign to achieve more competitive pay and benefits for MEA-represented employees.

Under the law, as your union, MEA negotiates wages, hours, and working conditions (including benefits). When you have questions or concerns about what’s happening in your workplace, please reach out to your MEA Labor Relations Officer.

City Budget Update and Communications about Reductions in Force (RIF)

City Budget Update

The City’s Budget process was especially difficult this year. When the Mayor’s Draft Budget was released, 260 MEA-represented full-time equivalent (FTE) positions were identified to be cut, and 144 FTE were filled positions.

Your MEA staff worked incredibly hard, pouring over documents, organizational charts, public filings, information requests, etc, to find a way to save as many filled positions as possible. As we repeatedly reminded the Council, filled positions are people with paychecks and health benefits, who work on the frontlines to serve the residents. You may have seen MEA General Manager, Michael Zucchet, or MEA Strategic Projects Manager, Corinne Wilson, testifying at Council multiple times during the weeks of the Budget hearings.

The communications with the Council, Mayor’s Office, DCOOs, and Department Directors were constant, as was the message – City employees provide the services that residents want and need. Without City employees, there are no services.

MEA brought the data and the message – and the message was heard. The Council dug deep to make difficult decisions that restored all hours and programs in Parks & Recreation, restored Monday hours at 16 library locations, restored access at all reservoirs, among other items. When the budget was finally approved, only 35 filled positions are impacted, and we believe that there are places for these employees to move into through the Reduction in Force (RIF) process, aka, everyone will have a job.

Reduction in Force (RIF) Communications from the City

Please note, if you are in a job classification where anyone in that classification throughout the entire City needs to go through the RIF process, you will receive an email notification from the City. This does not mean that you need to worry. The notification is part of the process and does not necessarily mean you.

If you will be impacted, you will be contacted directly by someone from the Personnel department, or by your MEA Labor Relations Officer.

Again, if you receive a mass email communication about your job classification being impacted by the RIF, this does not mean you. A separate and specific email will be sent to you – and that’s when you want to reach out to your MEA Labor Relations Officer to get more information.

Have You Downloaded the MEA App Yet?

MEA has an app! You can receive push notifications for any of our eblasts, search the PDF version of the MOU, launch an email or phone call with your Labor Relations Officer, and more, directly from the app, just like you can with the website. Some members prefer apps and some prefer websites. Whichever way you prefer to get your information from your union, it’s easy for you.

To download, go to either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store using the embedded links below, depending on your device, and download the app:

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

Don’t want to use the links? Then open the relevant app store for your device and search for San Diego Municipal Employees (Apple) or SD Municipal Employees Assoc (Google).

How to Set Up Push Notifications in the MEA App

Once downloaded, the app will ask if you want to allow push notifications. Choosing “allow” will provide you with a notification whenever a message from MEA is sent out. It’s like receiving an MEA eblast in your email inbox but will arrive to your mobile device in whatever way you have set up your notifications.

And, if you want to change your push notification setting, just open the app, go to Settings in the bottom right-hand corner, and toggle push notifications to the setting you want.

Use Discount Tickets to Make the Most of Summer!

Looking for more fun for you and your family? MEA has discount tickets!

Check out the latest releases in the theater with discounted movie tickets available for sale at the MEA Office.
Find discounted tickets to theme parks and local attractions like the Zoo & Safari Park, water parks, aquariums, and more.
See live theater productions with MEA discounts with the award-winning local theater companies, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse.

For more information and to access tickets, visit the MEA website.

Have Questions? Need Assistance?

Contact Your MEA Labor Relations Officer!

MEA Labor Relations Officers are experts in the workplace laws, rules, regulations, and policies that apply to you, whether City, state or Federal, and that’s only the beginning of what they can help you with.

Get the assistance and information you need to protect your job and succeed in your career at the City.

Find Your Labor Relations Officer