LIUNA’s Band, Whiskey Falls

Monday, October 15, 2007

California - Whiskey Falls, s southern rock and country band, is now the “Official Band” of LIUNA. Whiskey Falls met LIUNA Local 585 of southern California last year and performed at some LIUNA events and had several opportunities to meet members.  Band members have joined LIUNA and were inspired by it’s members to write the song “Working Man” and dontate a portion of the publishing revenues generated from the song to the LIUNA Charitable Foundation. Whiskey Falls is currently touring the country and “Working Man” is a hit song receiving substantial radio play. Their album hit stores on September 25th. For more information on Whiskey Falls go to http://www.whiskeyfallsmusic.com. 

Extreme Makeover: 21 Million to See LIUNA’s Work on ABC

Friday, October 12, 2007

LIUNA - The work, spirit and values of LIUNA Local 200 members in Bridgeport, Ct., will be featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition this Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The local’s members were among more than 4,000 volunteers who donated more than 500 hours to build and furnish a new home for a family whose house was ravished by fire. Home Edition is popular, attracting 21 million viewers. In addition to members volunteering, the Connecticut Laborers’ District Council sponsored a VIP tent, which Local 200 Business Manager Valerie Sorrentino managed. Local 200 member Rebekah Harriman coordinated volunteer assignments. It’s not the first time the local has shown its spirit – local members also volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the United Way and other charities. You can get a reminder to watch the show - send a text message on your cell phone to the number 35328 with the word LIUNA.

RN’s Mixed on Certification Pay

Redding - Since the Union negotiated Certification Pay in the SRMC RN contract in 2006 it continues to be an issue for some.  Certification pay accounts for a 6% increase for those who work in a specific department and possess the recognized certificate. Part of the trade off of getting this benefit in the contract was that some certificates were no longer recognized after a period of time. SRMC has been reviewing personnel files and matching them up to ensure RN’s have the correct and current certicicates which is when this issue heats up. SRMC RN’s do have an opportunity to be certified in the department they work in or wish to transfer to but be aware some certificates are not transferable meaning an RN could loose their 6% certification pay.

Colusa Court Employees Join UPEC

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Colusa - UPEC Local 792 is now in nine (9) Counties with the recent addition of the Colusa Court Employees. Business Manager Chris Darker received a call in June from the Court Employees who were seeking representation. Colusa Court employees previously belonged to the Colusa Employees Association who sent them a letter stating they no longer wanted to represent them.
UPEC filed a petition for representation in July for the eleven (11) employees and started negotiations in August. UPEC represents Court employees is six (6) Counties in the northstate.

ARBITRATOR RULES IN FAVOR OF UPEC

Susanville – UPEC received the arbitrator’s decision in the case of United Public Employees of California, Local 792 v. County of Lassen.  UPEC Labor Representative Mike Lyon successfully argued the case on behalf of 210 Lassen County Employees on May 16, 2007 before Arbitrator Catherine Harris.
The Union had initially filed a grievance with Lassen County on May 5, 2006 on behalf of the Lassen County General Unit claiming a violation of Article 12.02 of the Memorandum of Understanding which stated, “The County will pay one hundred per cent (100%) of each represented employees retirement contributions (member contributions) to CalPERS. Additionally, the County agrees to report the employer paid member contributions as PERS eligible earnings effective July 1, 2005.” When in actuality the County, on July 5, 2005, had begun charging each employee 100% of their PERS contribution and then reimbursing approximately 93% of that amount back as salary. The County argued that this case was not substantively arbitrable. In other words they argued that the Union had no right to grieve any issue over wages or benefits. The Arbitrator found for the Union.
The County argued that the issue was not procedurally arbitrable, stating the Union waited over six months until they filed their initial grievance (the time that the Union first learned of any discrepancy with the MOU) and that the Union could not file a class action grievance. The Arbitrator again found for the Union. The Union had the burden of proving a contract violation. Thus, in order to prevail, the Union had to prove by a preponderance of evidence that Lassen County violated Article 12.02 of the MOU. The Arbitrator responded, “Based on the totality of the record, the Arbitrator must conclude that agents of the County who were not presented as witnesses at arbitration agreed to pay 100% of employee retirement contributions, including that portion of employee retirement contributions associated with the reporting of EPMC as special compensation.
The Arbitrator has ordered that Lassen County bear the cost of reporting EPMC as special compensation and to reimburse unit employees for employee contributions deducted from unit employees’ paychecks retroactive to July 7, 2005.
“This is a victory for our member’s. Mike did a great job representing the union in this case. His investigation and persistence left no doubt that UPEC negotiated for the County to pay 100% of our members PERS contribution,” stated UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker.
The County is in the process of calculating the backpay award which a county source said will be mean a six figure amount for the union bargaining unit.  UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker estimated the cost of arbitration in this case will be around $5,000.00. 

UPEC Staff Meet with S.F. Units

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

San Francisco - Members of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area bargaining unit met with UPEC and LIUNA staff today at a welcome reception held in the Marin headlands. This is the beginning of several worksite visits UPEC staff is planning in order to meet with employees of three bargaining units in the San Francisco area. UPEC accepted the three (3) bargaining units in July 2007 that were previously assigned to LIUNA Local 36. Business Manager Chris Darker and LIUNA International Rep. Bill Keeton were on hand at today’s event to welcome employees. Both LIUNA and UPEC believe these members are a great fit with Local 792. “We have a full plate of negotiations and grievances and the staff is already getting positive results”, stated Darker. Chris Darker and UPEC Senior Negotiator Steve Allen will meet with the bargaining team for the Presidio Trust Unit tomorrow morning to map out their negotiations proposal’s.