Sacramento Court Professional Bargaining Update

Court Offers Insulting One-Time Payment

Your UPE Court Professional Unit Bargaining Team continued negotiations with Sacramento Court on August 14, 2026. UPE made seven additional proposals in an effort to improve working conditions and livable wage increases.  The proposals included wage increases, protections against AI, improvements to retiree health benefits, and the ability to cash out sick leave and/or convert to vacation time. The Court responded with an insulting proposal for a one-year contract with a one-time payment of $500. This money would be paid before taxes and would do nothing to help anyone in the bargaining unit. Even more insulting, the Court proposed limiting the one-time payment to only those with one year of court service as of August 31, 2026. Anyone with less than a year of service by that date would get nothing. UPE rejected this offensive proposal, as well as the Court's attempt to take away the wellness incentive and replace it with a Wellness Fair (something it could already be doing).

The Court claims it cannot afford to pay members any more than it is offering. It needs time to rebuild its reserves. This is the same line it provided two years ago. UPE members gave the Court a chance then, but not now. The Court will need to figure out a way to adequately reward its employees for all the hard work they do every single day making this Court run. What the Court is currently offering is a long way from that. There are three bargaining sessions between now and the expiration of the contract. Members need to prepare themselves if things do not improve.

Your Bargaining Team will be holding a BAC meeting on August 20, 2026, at the UPE office from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm.  Your questions and input are needed as we plan next steps, so please plan on attending.