Association:      An organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.  Members elect the President, Vice President and Board of Directors from its membership, who directly controls the affairs of the Association.

The Santa Monica Municipal Employees Association went into service in 1949.  From this time forward most City employees were members of MEA.  Through the years, groups of City employees petitioned the City to form their own Associations declaring they shared a 'community of interest', which clearly distinguished them from other groups of City employees.

    MEA was the largest Association.

Supervisors were MEA members.  In 1985, Supervisors petitioned MEA and the City to form their own Association.  The request went unopposed by MEA and the City granted recognition status.  The group that formed is known as the Supervisors Team Association or STA.

Professional employees were MEA members.  In 1989, Professional employees petitioned MEA and the City to form their own Association.  The request went unopposed by MEA and the City granted recognition status.  The group is known as the Administrative Team Associates or ATA.

Library staff employees were members of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).  In 1993, Library staff employees held an election.  MEA challenged AFSCME for employee representation.  Employees voted to decertify AFSCME and to become MEA members.

Blue-collar workers, City Yards' employees, were members of Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.).  In 1994, blue-collar employees held an election.  MEA challenged S.E.I.U. for employee representation.  Employees voted to decertify S.E.I.U. and to become MEA members.  In 1998, AFSCME challenged MEA's representation of blue-collar employees.  In an election during this year, MEA won decisively and defeated the international union, AFSCME.  Blue-collar employees remain MEA members.

Today there are approximately 1700 City employees represented by 10 bargaining units /unions/ associations.