On June 24, 2020, UPE proposed that Merced County reinstate the Disaster Service Worker Incentive effective June 22, 2020. We proposed the hours earned on or after June 22, 2020, have a cash value, and termination of the incentive would only occur when the State approved a stage 4 reopening for Merced County.
Despite the increasing cases throughout Merced, the County has rejected our proposal to reinstate the Disaster Service Worker Incentive. The County states that the incentive was implemented in the early stages of this pandemic while learning about the virus. Since then, according to the County, safety measures have been implemented to address what is now known of COVID-19. Unfortunately, as we have seen over the past few weeks, even with safety measures, the risk is still high throughout the County and in the worksites. UPE is disheartened by the County’s position and urged them to reconsider. We will continue to press the issue as cases continue to impact the workplace.