UPEC Executive Board to Meet in Susanville

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

REDDING - The UPEC Executive Board will meet in Susanville on Saturday, August 16th. Members in Modoc and Lassen Regions will receive a postcard announcement later this week. UPEC will present new member benefits implemented recently and report on activities within the local. Additionally, Board members want to hear directly from members on issues of concern. This will be the fourth road trip for the 13 member board during their term of office. The Executive Board has been to Alturas, Weaverville, and Willows in the past 15 months to meet directly with members. The Board will attempt to schedule one more trip before the end of this year. 

Shasta County Payroll Makes Error

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

REDDING - UPEC members from the Shasta County General Unit will find $10.00 extra dollars deducted out of their paycheck for Union Dues today union officials learned this morning. “Apparently someone didn’t read or pass on the memo the union sent to the County in December 2006”, said Business Manager Chris Darker. Shasta County General Unit members previously voted in 2006 to assess themselves $10.00 from the third paycheck’s over a 12 month period. In a letter to Mark Lynch at Shasta County Payroll dated December 19, 2006, UPEC clearly identified three (3) specific pay dates that checks were to be assessed the ten dollars. The dates were January 30, 2007, July 31, 2007 and December 31, 2007. The UPEC office has been receiving calls from concerned members all day. “We telephoned County Payroll this morning and requested the County correct the error. Additionally, the union has documented the incident in a letter to County payroll today”, stated Darker.

CalPERS Retirement Benefits Not Affected by State Budget Deadlock

Thursday, July 24, 2008

SACRAMENTO, CA The California Public Employees’ Retirement System today issued the following statement by CalPERS Board President Rob Feckner regarding California’s State budget impasse:

“The lack of a State budget has absolutely no impact on CalPERS retirees. Our retired members will continue to receive their full CalPERS retirement benefit payments as they normally do because CalPERS retirement benefits are guaranteed by State law”.

“Also, the budget situation will not affect CalPERS members who are in the middle of their retirement application process. CalPERS retirement benefit calculations are based on a worker’s highest average pay rate over a 12 or 36 month period. This holds true despite any potential changes to employee salaries”.

CalPERS pays retirement benefits to more than 455,000 retirees and their beneficiaries.

CalPERS is the largest public pension fund in the U.S. with more than $233 billion in assets. The retirement system manages retirement and health benefits for more than 1.5 million active and retired California public employees on behalf of 2,600 public employers, including the State of California. For more information, visit http://www.calpers.ca.gov.

SRMC Management Agrees to Return to Mediation

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

REDDING - The Attorney representing SRMC in negotiations with the Union said they are willing to meet with UPEC and continue to mediate. SRMC Nurses overwhelmly rejected managements last offer in June.  SRMC expressed their disappointment that the Nurses rejected their last offer but are willing to meet with union nurses again. In a letter to UPEC Negotiator Mike Lyon, SRMC Attorney Frank Birchfield said their “financial position has become more precarious… and it is highly doubtful, however, that SRMC will be in a position to offer any additional concessions”. UPEC has contacted the Federal Mediator and is waiting for mediation dates. The nurses have been working without a contract since May 31st.

City Council Wants Public Input on PERS Retirement

Pacific Grove - The Pacific Grove City Council voted 4-3 in favor of placing an advisory measure on the November ballot. The City filed a resolution yesterday with the Monterey Elections Department. The advisory vote will ask the citezens of Pacific Grove their opinion of taking the City Employees out of the CALPERS Retirement System and placing them into a 401K type of plan. UPEC was unable to obtain the exact language today and told to call back after August 8th.
The City Council had previous voted 3-4 against placing CALPERS item on the ballot in their July 2nd meeting following comments from Fire, Police and UPEC representatives. A week later the item was back on the City Council agenda for the July 16th meeting. Business Manager Chris Darker said the CIty Council is determined to do away with CALPERS claiming that the retirement system is too costly and to blame for their projected budget shortfall. 

UNION RALLY DRAWS OVER 150 SUPPORTERS

Friday, July 18, 2008

WILLOWS , CA – The Union that represents Glenn County Superior Court employees announced today that a law suit has been filed against the Court in Federal District Court in Eastern Sacramento, California.  Chris Darker, Business Manager for the United Public Employees of California, Local 792 made the announcement at a Union Solidarity Rally held in Willows, California on Monday, July 14, 2008.

The EEOC conducted an extensive investigation of the Glenn County Superior Court in Willows, California and determined that court administration had failed to promote its employee, Norma Raygoza, a Hispanic female, based upon her race in 2005. Following the determination by the EEOC, court administration finally promoted Ragoza from a Court Clerk II to a Court Clerk III in August 2007.  “Norma is an excellent employee who, because of her race, was denied a promotion for nearly two and one-half years longer than her fellow Caucasian workers”, stated Darker. Ragoza has worked for the court since February 2000.

The Union and Raygoza, assisted by EEOC representatives, met with court administration in January 2008 in an attempt to settle issues such as lost wages and benefits. The court refused to make any settlement and continued to deny any wrongdoing. “The lack of any settlement offer by the
Court clearly shows their contempt for the law and total disrespect for those of Hispanic origin”, stated Darker.

The United States Department of Justice issued a “Right to Sue” letter to Norma Raygoza in April 2008 giving her 90 days to file an action against the Glenn Courts. Raygoza has received the backing of her labor union and retained the Law Firm of Sacramento attorney Paul Q. Goyette who filed the suit in the Federal District Court for Eastern Sacramento County, California today.

The suit is filed against the Glenn County Superior Court, Assistant Court Executive Officer Janelle Bartlett and Chief Court Executive Officer Tina Burkhart. The complaint alleges the defendants discriminated and retaliated against Norma Raygoza, specifically:  1. Discrimination Violation of Title VII (42 U.S.C. §2000, et seq.); 2. Discrimination Violation of FEHA (Gov. Code § 12940, et seq.):  3. Retaliation in Violation of Title VII (42. U.S.C.  § 2000, et seq.); 4. Retaliation in Violation of FEHA (Gov. Code § 12940, et seq.)

“Our Union will not stand for racism in the workplace and as a union we will go the extra mile to ensure our members are protected against these bigots and see that justice is served. As American Citizens we have protections under the United States Constitution”, stated Darker in front of Raygoza supporters.