The Story Behind Taps

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

REDDING HQ - On this July 4th, UPEC Staff thought our members should know where the tune/song “Taps” originated.  It’s the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes, but do you know the story behind the song?

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Elli was with his men near Harrison’s landing in Virginia.  The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.
During the night, Captain Elli heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field.  Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.  Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.  The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.  In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier.  It was his own son.  The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out.  Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status.  His request was only partially granted.  The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.  The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.

But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.  The Captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth’s uniform.  This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as “Taps” used at military funerals was born.  The words are:

Day is done.
Gone the sun.
From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming Bright.
From afar.
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise.
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh.

Remember those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.  Also Remember Those Who Have Served and Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.

Updates to Contracts and Agendas and Minutes

Friday, June 25, 2010

Updates to several contracts and Agendas and Minutes have been posted to the downloads page.

NEW PERS Rates for 2011 Posted

Thursday, June 17, 2010

We’ve posted the latest on new PERS medical rates for 2011.  These rate sheets are available now in the downloads section, at the top of the page.  Only members will be able to access the downloads page and so if you need an account but don’t have one, please click “register” on the right-hand side of this page to sign up for an account!

State Union’s Agree to Roll Back Pension

SACRAMENTO - The California Highway Patrol officers’ union and three other state labor groups have agreed to contract terms with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that roll back pension benefits for new state hires and increase all employees’ retirement contributions.

The deals would also protect the unions’ members from the threat of minimum wage when lawmakers don’t enact a state budget on time and eventually add a top step pay increase.

“We’re not blind or deaf to the unique times in California. We want to get the necessary discussion of (pension) reform behind us,” said Jon Hamm of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen.

The three other unions are the California Department of Forestry Firefighters, the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, with the contracts covering 23,000 state employees including patrol officers, firefighters, health and social service professionals and psychiatric technicians.

The tense negotiations wrapped up around midnight on Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the talks told The Bee. It’s the first time that several unions have coordinated their negotiations.

The contracts must be approved by rank-and-file members and the Legislature, and then signed by the governor. The process will take several weeks, but the contracts would take effect immediately when signed.

The outcome of the contract talks reflects the emphasis that the Schwarzenegger administration has put on cutting employee pension costs. Newly hired patrol officers and firefighters would come in under a new pension formula that would allow them to retire at age 55 with 3 percent of the average of their highest three years of pay multiplied by their years of service up to 90 percent of that average wage. Current employees can retire at age 50.

New and existing employees in all four groups would increase their pension contributions to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System from the current 5 percent of their pay to 10 percent. That has also been high on Schwarzenegger’s agenda.

The agreements also include a provision that covered employees would be paid even when lawmakers fail to enact a budget by the June 30 fiscal year-end. Unions have long sought that protection, since the law allows state worker pay to be withheld to the federal minimum wage when there’s no money appropriated in a state budget to pay the employees.

Schwarzenegger invoked that law in 2008, although opposition from state Controller John Chiang delayed action on the order long enough for the Legislature to enact a budget, rendering the governor’s order moot. But the issue has resurfaced. The 2010-11 budget year is about to start on July 1, and it looks likely that lawmakers won’t get a budget deal done by then.

The agreements for the psych techs and the health professionals include one day of unpaid personal leave per month during fiscal year 2010-11, the equivalent of just under a 5 percent pay cut. The contract proposals for firefighters and patrol officers don’t include that provision.

Story Courtesy of Sacramento Bee 6/17/10

Redding City Council Approves Ballot Measure

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

REDDING - The Redding City Council approved their own ballot measurers for the November 2, 2010 election. The measure, if passed, will be advisory to the Council and establish policy for future Council members to follow. 

“The “three” decided to waste as much as fifty-thousand tax dollars on an initiative that doesn’t benefit the citizens of Redding and allows Councilman Bossetti and Jones to use it for their own political gain”, said UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker. Meanwhile, as many as twelve (12) fireman will be given pink slips in the next 40 days.

Their are two measures, one will ask voters if the council should enter negotiations asking workers to pay a portion of their California Public Employees’ Retirement System pensions. The requirement would be phased in over the length of the contract up for negotiation. The other measure would require a minimum five years of service and enrollment in Medicare for those eligible before the city would contribute to a retiree’s health insurance premium cost. Retirees with 25 years or more service with the city could get up to 50 percent of their premiums covered.

“There were no surprises at last nights meeting. Like many other issues on the council agenda, the people speak and then the “three” do what they were going to do anyway”, said Darker.

The public pension initiative, the retiree health insurance measure would establish the city’s opening bargaining position. The council could change its position through the bargaining process, City Attorney Rick Duvernay said. “Something the Council has done and can continue to do without wasting our tax dollars”, said Darker.

Council members Dick Dickerson and Mary Stegall, who have opposed the ballot measure since then-Mayor Rick Bosetti proposed it in October 2009, voted no on the measures.

Dickerson, who called the ballot measures “ludicrous,” wondered why the council could not agree on an opening bargaining position tonight, without spending up to $50,000 to put two measures on the ballot that voters may reject. “Nothing in the ballot measure will expedite the process,” Dickerson said. “It just doesn’t do anything.”

According to the Record Searchlight report, “the ballot measures will de-politicize the benefits issue, which unions are already using against council members this election season, said Bosetti, who will defend his seat in November.”

Noting some have commented the proposed ballot measures lack teeth, Bosetti suggested Redding become a charter city, where voters can decide employee compensation. The suggestion drew scattered applause.

Contributions by Redding Record Searchlight

New Union Bank Benefits

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Get your $50.00 and many more benefits exclusively available for UPEC members from Union Bank.  Login and check the benefits page for details!