San Diego Municipal Employees Association

September 2025 MEA Newsletter

A Message from MEA President Michele Chicarelli

It’s been a busy year, and the last few months of 2025 will be busy ones too, including starting to negotiate the next Memorandum of Understanding.

This issue of the MEA Newsletter provides more information about the many things happening before the calendar changes to the new year, including:

Introducing your newly elected Board of Directors members,
Inviting you to join us for the General Membership Meeting in October,
A reminder to vote for your representative for the Negotiating Team,
Information about Open Enrollment and how to maximize some of the discount tickets available to MEA members.

If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to your MEA Labor Relations Officer.

In Solidarity,

Michele Chicarelli

President, MEA Board of Directors

Introducing the 2025-2027 MEA Board of Directors

Over the summer, MEA sent out a call for nominations and held elections for the 2025 – 2027 Board of Directors. Earlier this month, the new Board members were sworn in by Councilmember Kent Lee in a special installation and orientation meeting at the MEA office in Kearny Mesa.

MEA is a member-owned and member-operated organization. MEA has a tradition of robust participation and representation from our members, and that continued active involvement is critical to our success.

The Board of Directors makes decisions on behalf of more than 5,000 MEA-represented City employees. MEA members from every City Department are entitled to representation on the Board. Each department is allowed to elect at least one Board member, with larger departments having more Board seats allotted.

A big thank you to the MEA members who ran for election. A union doesn’t just happen; it takes the work of dedicated people. Everyone who put their names forward was willing to make that commitment to you and all MEA members. Win or lose, their willingness to serve is greatly appreciated.

When you see your Board member, please thank the newly elected Board members and the outgoing Board members for their commitment to you and to the union.

Important Upcoming Dates

Join Us for the General Membership Meeting

President Michele Chicarelli and the Membership Committee of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association cordially invite you to MEA’s Annual General Membership Meeting on Thursday, October 2. No RSVP required.

Click here for more details.

Vote for your Representative for the Negotiating Team

It is time to elect a new MEA Negotiating Team. Elections in the Professional, Supervisory, and Technical bargaining units are open now until Thursday, October 1, 12:00 P.M.

The election results and MEA’s new Negotiating Team will be announced shortly after the voting ends, once the results are certified.

What is the Negotiating Team?

The MEA Negotiating Team is made up of two representatives from each of the four bargaining units that MEA represents, as well as the Executive Committee of MEA’s Board of Directors. Working with lead negotiators Ann Smith (MEA attorney) and Michael Zucchet (MEA General Manager), the team “meets and confers” with the City’s authorized representatives to bargain and attempt to reach an agreement on MEA’s labor contract (also known as the MOU) that affects your wages, benefits, and the overall quality of your work life.

What is a Bargaining Unit?

Jobs within the City are divided into different units that are represented by various labor organizations recognized by the City. MEA represents four units: Administrative Support and Field Service; Supervisory; Technical; and Professional. A complete list of classifications can be found in Appendix A of the MOU.

How do I vote?

If you are in the Professional, Supervisory, or Technical bargaining units, Please click here to vote and find the election under My Surveys/Elections on the left-hand side of the page.

Note: two members of the Administrative Support and Field Service bargaining unit submitted nominations forms. They are automatically seated and no election will happen.

Open Enrollment Begins in October

Open Enrollment for benefits starts in October. Did you know:

The current MOU includes increases into your FBP Credits each December 1.

While MEA and SDPEBA strive to keep premiums as low as possible while providing the services you need, increases happen. However, that doesn’t always mean that it needs to impact your take-home pay. In the current MOU, on December 1 of each year, more money goes into your FBP Credits to help cover potential increases.

MEA Members brought Sharp Health Plan to the City years ago.

Decades ago, the City offered one health plan. It was a high-deductible, low-benefit plan. MEA members asked that their union bring Sharp to the City. And we did and created incentives for the plans to help keep costs low and services high, aka, working for you.

MEA fights hard for you with the plan providers.

MEA works alongside SDPEBA to improve the services covered by the MEA plans while keeping premiums low through robust negotiations with plan providers (Sharp, MetLife Dental, VSP Vision).

Plan premiums and services are negotiated at regular intervals. We listen to you about what would improve the plans and look at the data at a 10,000-foot level, to better serve you and your loved ones.

During Open Enrollment, take a moment to review your benefits and make any changes so they work best for you.

Questions about the plans offered through MEA – Sharp Health Plan, MEA Dental (MetLife), or MEA Vision? Contact SDPEBA.
Questions about the health plans offered through the City – Kaiser or Cigna? Contact the City’s Risk Management Department.

MEA and The Old Globe – Up to 50% Off Tickets

This summer was the first year of the new event, MEA Night at The Old Globe and it was a rousing success!

If you enjoyed the event, or enjoy live theater, The Old Globe just announced their 2026 Season and MEA members can get 50% off tickets when you subscribe to 5 or more plays. Go to the Member Portal on the MEA website for more details and the discount code.

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