Modoc County General Unit Ratifies New MOU

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

On October 6, 2008 a secret ballot election was held in Alturas to accept or deny the County’s most recent offer. With a vote of 69 “yes” and 1 “no” the offer was accepted.

Although there was not a salary increase the employees were moved into CalPERS health insurance. The County is picking up 100% of the CalPERS insurance for all employees and dependents. The County is also paying for 100% of the current dental and vision insurance for the employee and the employees family. Going to the CalPERS insurance will give a retiring employee, who keeps the health insurance, about 20% of his/her premium paid by the County. Employees with over twenty-five years of service with the County will get five additional days of vacation annually. The employees have also had their floating holidays increased to two days annually.

The bargaining team of Nancy Richardson, Pam Randall, Bill Hall, Betty Brown and Chad Jessup are to be commended for their hard work and perseverance in obtaining this contract. I would also like to thank Pam Randall and Laurie Gossage from the Auditor’s Office for helping count the ballots. Also thanks to the Auditor, Judi Stevens, for allowing them to count the votes.

Board Announces 2009 Conference

Saturday, October 04, 2008

REDDING - The UPEC Executive Board is pleased to announce the UPEC Leadership Conference and Scholarship Golf Tournament set for June 26 - 28, 2009 in Redding, California. “We are looking forward to planning and holding this event”, said Business Manager Chris Darker. This will be the first Scholarship Golf Tournament for Local 792. Darker said he appointed Labor Representative Cinamon Pitts to Chair the Scholarship Committee. Pitts said she is happy to get this assignment and is looking forward to putting the committee together. The golf tournament will be held on Friday, June 26th beginning at 8:00am. There will be a luncheon and raffle following. “This conference will give us the opportunity to recognize over 200 members who have been active as stewards, negotiating team members,support members and at least 65 members who have been with the local since day 1’, said Darker. Announcements will be mailed out next week and every month with updated information.

Shasta Regional Medical Center LVN/Technical Unit Files Grievance

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The members of the Shasta Regional Medical Center LVN/Technical Unit were forced to file a grievance against the hospital on September 30, 2008 because the hospital would not honor the two (2) floating holidays in their contract. Hospital management believes that these hours should be taken out of the individual employees’ accrued PTO account. The Union emphatically disagrees with this interpretation which would not be a benefit to the employee.

A Union representative met with the Vice President of Human Resources, Sandra Speer, last week in an attempt to resolve this issue. When this issue was unable to be resolved the Union was forced to file a grievance on behalf of all the employee’s of this bargaining unit.

The Union has asked for mediation unless this matter can be resolved at Step 2 of the grievance process.

New Contract for Modoc County Medical Unit

On September 29, 2008 the members of the Modoc County Medical Unit voted to accept the County’s most recent proposal. Only one member voted not to accept the County’s offer.

The members of this unit will be getting a 3% salary increase upon ratification of the Board Of Supervisors next week. The County has also agreed to pay an additional 1% of the employees portion of their individual PERS contribution. After a three year battle the employee’s will be getting $350 annually for uniforms. The on call rate has been raised to $3.00 per hour and “grandparents-in-law” will be added to the bereavement leave.

The hospital has also added seven new full time paramedics, EMT I’s and EMT II’s to this bargaining unit. The union is still working on finalizing the language for these positions.

Thank you to Dan Vierra, Dori Budmark, and Marilyn Sims for their hard work in getting this contract ratified.

Butte County Bargaining Slowed Due To State Budget Concerns

Monday, September 29, 2008

Negotiations Stalled

UPEC represents two Butte County bargaining units, the Butte County Probation Peace Officer Unit and the Butte County Professional Unit.  Both units are represented by employee organizations affiliated with UPEC (the Butte County Professional Peace Officers’ Association and the Butte County Professional Employees’ Association) and have their own Board’s of Directors and bargaining teams.

Negotiations for both organizations started in early summer and then quickly stalled as the State Legislature wrestled unsuccessfully to adopt a State Budget in a timely manner.

More recently, with a State Budget finally passed, the County has agreed to meet in October.  Retroactivity will be a concern as the delay has taken the parties past the September 30 expiration of their respective MOU’s.

Glenn County POA Bargaining Starts

Glenn County POA Meets With County Negotiators

Representatives of the Glenn County POA including President Michelle Peters and UPEC Negotiator Steve Allen, representing Probation Officers, Correctional Officers, Juvenile Hall Counselors, Welfare Fraud Investigators and other County public safety classifications, initiated the process to negotiate a new collective bargaining process by meeting with the County negotiating team consisting of the County CAO, the County Personnel Director and a County Supervisor.

Ground Rules were reviewed and signed and then the POA submitted its list for pay, benefit and working condition upgrades. Due to confidentiality rules in place as long as negotiations are productive specific proposals won’t be listed.

The next session is scheduled for October 9th.  The current contract expires December 31, 2008.