Shasta Courts Employees Ratify New MOU

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Earlier tonight, members of the Shasta Courts Unit - including Court Clerks, Courtroom Clerks, Court Reporters, Service Officers and other non-supervisory Court employees from the Superior Court of California, County of Shasta voted to ratify a successor MOU after three months of negotiations with the Court.  The MOU, set to last 16 months, includes a one-time payment to all bargaining unit employees, and holds employee contributions for Retiree Admin Fees at their current levels.  Medical, Dental and Vision formulas will continue over the course of the MOU and for the first time, the Court has agreed to pay stipends for Court Reporters providing real-time reporting, Bilingual employees fluent in spanish, and has agreed to create a new Service Officer classification at 5% above the current class - recognizing increased responsibilities for SO’s performing dispatch functions.

Let Public in on Labor Deals

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Sac Bee Editorial: Let public in on government labor deals
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, May 13, 2008
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/932926.html

Peter Scheer, who heads the California First Amendment Coalition, has a novel idea: End the secrecy surrounding local government labor contract negotiations.
You can understand the logic and the urgency behind his idea when you consider the situation in Vallejo. That city is filing for bankruptcy. Why? Local officials approved salary and benefits costs for current employees and retirees that are more than the city can afford.
Scheer’s point is that California law allows local government officials “to avoid public discussion of the true cost and fiscal impact of the pay deals that they have approved.” By the time the public sees anything, a union contract already is a done deal and no changes can be made.
In some states, all phases of the bargaining process, including negotiations, are open to the public (though government officials may discuss strategy for labor negotiations in closed session). Minnesota, Florida, Kansas and Tennessee are examples.
California is at the opposite extreme. The state’s Brown Act not only allows negotiations about salaries and benefits to be conducted behind closed doors, it allows local government officials to vote on a final agreement in closed session. Only after that vote and union acceptance of the contract does the local government have to let the public in on the deal. And only then does the text of the contract become a public record – when it’s too late to change anything.
The situation in Vallejo should cause legislators to revisit this nonsense. At a minimum, legislators should require local governments, before any vote, to publish a proposed contract and prepare a single, authoritative, easy-to-read document listing all parts of the offer, including cost. They also should require local governments to hold a public hearing to consider the financial ramifications of every labor agreement. The vote to approve or reject the contract should be held in public session.
The Vallejo debacle highlights a basic truth: the public that pays the bills should be able to see and question a contract before a vote, not after.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSES WEEK

Monday, May 05, 2008

Last week UPEC, Local 792 celebrated “National Nurses Week” for our represented employees in that field. Spearheaded by Business Manager, Chris Darker and Union Relations Representative, Christine Peery the nurses were honored by radio spots throughout the week in the north-state.

The Union also prepared a barbecue tri-tip dinner for the nurses at Shasta Regional Medical Center. The volunteers began setting up at 8:00 AM and were not done serving until after 10:00 PM that night. Over 120 pounds of tri-tip were cooked and served along with beans, salad, rolls and beverages to our member R.N.’s, L.V.N.’s, and technicians at the hospital.

Numerous volunteer’s stopped by or spent the whole day running this event. I would like to thank Chris Darker, Christine Peery, Executive Board President Mike Cottone, Executive Board Members Holly Pearson, Debra Belstad, and Steve Suske, also Joe Harvick, Allie Lyon, Paul Heckman, Patti Wyatt, Crystal Mair, Danielle Standley, Jerry Stark, Terri Bono and the sons and daughters of some of these members who helped spell their parents late in the afternoon. The hospital would not allow us to have the event in their parking lot so we did the next best thing on a nearby public parkway. I know I probably left someone out who helped during the day and if I did I apologize in advance. Without all of the help an event of this magnitude would not have been possible. Executive Chef, Joe Harvick, was responsible for the excellent tri-tip that was served during the day.

A live radio remote was held from noon until 2:00PM by KSHA 104.3 FM, along with the radio spots that were heard on KSHA, KQMS, and KRDG. It was a family atmosphere throughout the day with a good time had by all. Negotiations updates were handed out and questions were answered for the SRMC employees. Special thanks to bargaining team members Debra Belstad, Tina Vaughn, Robyn Nickels and Danielle Standley who spent time at the event.

Thank you all for making this a success.

Shasta Courts Supervisors to Vote on New MOU

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The Supervisory employees at Shasta Courts will be voting next week on a potential successor MOU.  Voting will take place by ballot between 12 and 1pm on Monday May 5th, with special provisions being made for Supervisory employees stationed at the Burney Court.  The settlement carries the recommendation of the Negotiating Team and although that recommendation is made, no additional details are available at this time other than those available to members of that specific bargaining unit.  This story will be updated with results of that ratification effort on Monday May 5. 

Family Medical Leave Act Tips

Are your absences for sick leave being referred to in your evaluation?  If you used leave that was qualifying leave under the FMLA/CFRA you should be aware that the law prohibits an employer from withholding a benefit or privilege to you because you’ve taken FMLA leave, and also prohibits an employer from giving you a poor evaluation or denying you (or delaying) a promotion for having taken protected leave.  Specifically, the following are illegal behaviors for employers:  Assigning make-up hours, Reducing Overtime Opportunities, Assigning More Difficult Tasks, Denying Promotions, Issuing Negative Evaluations, and Lectures or Warnings about Improving Attendance (to name just a few).  In California, the California Family Rights Act (and claims of violations of FMLA) are handled by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.  If you have questions or suspect a violation of any of the above rules contained within FMLA and CFRA contact the union for assistance with your issue.

Academic Discount for Union Members

Friday, April 11, 2008

Anne Palmer-Martin of Huntington Learning Center has agreed to give Local 792 Union members an 8% discount on services for individual testing and tutoring in reading, study skills, writing, phonics, and spelling, math, and SAT/ACT preparations.  Additionally throughout the month of April, Ms. Palmer-Martin has committed to give members a $100.00 scholarship to be used towards a diagnostic evaluation; however this scholarship offer does expire April 30th.  For additional information, contact Ms. Palmer-Martin at (530) 221-1415, 940 A/B Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA 96002, or visit http://www.huntingtonlearning.com for additional information about Huntington Learning Center’s services.

Local PERKS Cards

Headquarters - UPEC Local 792 is another step closer to obtaining the local member discount cards. The Union decided on Kelly Press to print the 3,500 cards for local 792 members. Business Manager Chris Darker researched this benefit last summer following a meeting at LIUNA Headquarters. The UPEC Executive Board embraced the idea and decided to fund this member discount program in late 2007. The card will be issued to Active and Retired UPEC Local 792 members at no additional cost. “I think the members are going to like the benefits of this program and find the card very useful,” said Darker.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Thursday, April 03, 2008

by:  Christine Perry - UPEC Staff

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  These tips might be useful.  Also April 5th is the “WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES” sponsored by the Women’s Refuge.  All persons, families are invited to walk, great opportunity to wear our shirts in support of this event.

A few tips for ladies: 

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1).  The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle.  They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can be easily grabbed.  They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair.  Women with short hair are not common targets.

2).  The second thing men look for is clothing.  They will look for women who’s clothing is easy to remove quickly.  Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3).  They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4).  Men are most likely to attack and rape in the early morning, between 5:00 a.m. And 8:30 a.m.

5).  The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots.  Number two is office parking lots/garages.  Number three is public restrooms.

6).  The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.

7).  Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

8).  If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9).  These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.
Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon.  So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

10).  Several defense mechanisms include:  If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk:  “I can’t believe it is so cold out here”, “We’re in for a bad winter.” Now you’ve seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11).  If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK!  Most of the rapists interviewed said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back.  Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12).  If you carry pepper spray, yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13).  If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them.  If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD.  Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.

14).  After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN.

15).  When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible!

16).  Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts!!!!

Again, being aware that crimes do happen all the time has already decreased your chances of being a victim by 50%.  Now that you are aware, the rest is up to you.  Whether you take a self defense course (ideally) or equip yourself with stun guns or pepper spray is up to you.  Crime happens whether you are ready or not.  So when it happens, you must be ready.  Do not wait; your safety is priceless!

Trinity Units Negotiate Contract Extension

The Trinity County Miscellaneous Peace Officer bargaining unit and the Trinity County Deputy Sheriffs Association bargaining unit have reached an agreement with the County to extend their respective labor agreements for three years in return for Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA’s) and a revised retiree medical formula.

The deal allows the County to delay its retiree medical contribution so that an employee must work 10 years with the County before becoming eligible for the County’s retiree medical contribution, which is then gradually increased until the full contribution is reached at 20 years of County service.  The new formula applies to employees hired after January 1, 2008 and replaces the current formula whereby an employee receives the full County retiree medical contribution regardless of length of service with the County.  For example, under the grandfathered system that will now slowly be replaced, an employee who worked 20 years in Shasta County can take a job at Trinity County, work 6 months and then take a PERS retirement with Trinity County responsible for paying its full retiree medical contribution.

In return. the Units received a 2% COLA in January 2009, 2% in January 2010 and 4% in January 2011.

POA President Hal Ridelhuber and DSA President Eric Palmer are to be congratulated on their foresight in negotiating an agreement that provides COLA’s and benefit guarantees for an additional 3 years during this time of economic uncertainty.  Good work!

SRMCRN NEGOTIATIONS

Friday, March 28, 2008

The Registered Nurses from Shasta Regional Medical Center will begin negotiations with the hospital on April 10, 2008 at 0800 hours. Negotiation times have been set for three to five days a week over the next two months.

A meeting of the SRMCRN bargaining team is set for April 3, 2008 at 0900 hours at the Union office.

The following R.N.’s have volunteered for your bargaining team: Debra Belstad, Lee Sutter, Tina Eslinger, Robyn Nickels, and Mike Lyon, staff negotiator. I believe that a nurse from the Emergency Room has also volunteered and I am awaiting her name. If the Union members from the hospital have any questions they can reached Mike Lyon at 245 1890 extension 107.