REDDING - Members from Local 792 and the American Postal Workers Local came together on Saturday morning to listen to 2nd Congressional Candidate Jeff Morris of Weaverville. Members from both local unions had questions and comments concerning the district. Steve Suske, UPEC Board member for the Shasta Region expressed his concern and questions over rural healthcare and government financial accountability. Mike Kargas, UPEC Board member for the Siskiyou Region asked questions about rural education funding and a 4 year College for the far north County. Larry Olsen, UPEC Past President and Board member told Morris we need more trade and vocational type schools to keep our children from leaving to larger cities and other states.Morris believes that public employees and “Union jobs” are important to the district and that unions play an important part in the economy of the northstate. Members talked with Morris for nearly 90 minutes and were pleased with the answers Morris provided. UPEC members continued the discussion after Morris left and voted to endorse Moriis over current congressman Wally Herger. Herger dis not request a meeting with UPEC.
Redding - The UPEC Executive Board voted Saturday to affiliate with the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council and the South Bay Central Labor Council. Joining these CLC’s will bring to a total of four CLC’s that Local 792 belongs to. The Local recently joined the San Francisco Labor Council last fall as a result of expanding representation to the Bay area. On January 1, 2008, Local 792 accepted responsibility of 16 bargaining units from Local 270 expanding representation to Carmel, Capitola, Monterey, Milpitas,and Seaside to name a few. Local unions are encouraged to join CLC’s in the area’s where their members live and work. The purpose of Central Labor Councils is for all of the different unions to work together on political, community projects and other working family joint interests. UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker will appoint delegates to these councils.
REDDING - The UPEC Executive Board approved organizing the second UPEC Local 792 Conference next year. The Conference is scheduled for June 26-28, 2009 in Redding. The Conference will coordinate with the 2009 Local Election. The Board has been interested in holding a conference for members either on an annual basis or every 3 years during the local 792 election’s. Business Manager Chris Darker has been involved in Regional and International Conferences for many years and has seen the value of bring members and Local leaders together. “We have come along way with our communication capabilities and platforms that I felt were necessary to inform and sustain a diverse Local Leadership Team that could build member solidarity and strength”, said Darker. Local 792 currently has approximately 130 members who are involved in bargaining, bargaining support teams and trained union stewards. Darker plans to bring the number up the member involvement number to 300 by September 2011 before the next LIUNA Convention. “I see these conferences as a time to train our UPEC leaders and members, and to recognize and award those who give of themselves for the benefit of our working families”, Darker said.
Redding - The parent company of Shasta Regional Medical Center (SRMC) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today. It’s a move company officials say was designed to aid in the sale of SRMC a 248 bed, for profit hospital and three others in the North Carolina based Hospital Partners of America (HPA). UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker first received the news around 9:30am this morning and has been on the phone in an attempt to get answers for the members UPEC represents at the hospital. UPEC represents over 300 Registered Nurses and 150 LVN’s and Tech’s.
Shasta County General Unit Contract Proposal Ratified By Members
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mediator Submits Recommendation To Both Sides
After participating in several mediation sessions the State Mediator assigned to the Impasse submitted her recommendation for settlement directly to the Union and County Teams. Union members attending an update meeting voted to put the Recommendation out to the Union membership for a vote.
After an all day ballot process on September 15th, the General Unit Bargaining Team and several member volunteers stayed late at the Union Office to tabulate the ballot count.
The overwhelming majority of voters approved the two year, 6% package that will run from May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2010 (3% COLA in November of each year).
The next step is for the County to take the Mediator’s Recommendation to the Board of Supervisors in closed session for approval. It was represented to the Union Team that if the Union approved the package the County Team would recommend it to the Board of Supervisors. Assuming the Board gives the proposed settlement the nod, the final step is for the County to draft the revised contractr language. UPEC Staff, the Union Team and any member who wishes to do so will review the language for accuracy and then both sides will sign the new contract.
After the new copy is signed, copies will be provided to each member.
On another matter, the Union is looking to set a regular monthly meeting and would appreciate suggestions regarding what day of the week and week of the month to set the meeting.
Thank you to all members who participated in the bargaining process this year, and in particular to the Bargaining Team: Steve Suske, Diane White, Brett Cobabe, Ron Huey and Debbie Watenpaugh. Union staff negotiators Dave Ritchie and Steve Allen assisted the Union team. It was tough going this year due to the downturn in the economy and the fiasco over the State budget but the member vote signifies a job well done.