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.

Draft SCGU MOU for 2008-2010 Posted for Review

UPEC is posting the draft 2008-2010 SCGU MOU for review.  This file includes markup showing any changes from the prior MOU.  Interested members can view the file by visiting the “Forums” section.  The Draft MOU is posted in the “Draft Contract Review Boards” forum.

Note:  you must have adobe acrobat reader or the acrobat reader plugin installed to view this file.

American Income Life

REDDING - During the month of September, UPEC assisted American Income Life (AIL) with the distribution of their information on the free $3,000.00 life insurance policy for UPEC members. Business Manager Chris Darker provided a letter along with a card for members to complete should they desire additional information on other services offered from AIL.
Darker said he wants the members to know that they DO NOT need to complete the card and mail it back to AIL. “Members that mail the card back to AIL will get a phone call from them asking to set up an appointment to discuss the free policy and review other services and insurance benefits”. All members of Local 792 will receive the free $3,000.00 in Life Insurance Benefits whether they mail the card back or not.
Darker said that AIL has good products and is a 100% Union Company. AIL is not affiliated with UPEC Local 792 or Laborers International Union of North America.