UPEC Supports SRMC Grant

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Redding - Shasta Regional Medical Center is applying for a training grant through the State of California. The training grant would provide courses in Business Skills, Commercial Skills, and Computer and Advanced Technology Skills as they relate to the medical field. As employees complete the training, the hospital would be reimbursed by the State grant fund. Both SRMC and UPEC feel very strongly about wanting to provide employees with as much educational opportunities as possible. Business Manager Chris Darker wrote a letter of support to the State Employment Training Panel in Sacramento and offered the UPEC training center as an additional education site. It is not yet known when the program would be implemented if approved by the State.

Colusa Courts Unit Settles First Contract!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Colusa Superior Court members ratified a new 3 year agreement that makes significant progress on the issue of dependent medical premium, which was the most important issue identified by Union members when they began the bargaining process several months ago.  Prior to the agreement, the employer contributed the same amount for dependent medical premium as for the single employee premium - $353 per month.  This meant that an employee with family medical coverage paid over $900 per month for their share of the premium!

The new Agreement increases the employer’s contribution for medical premium concurrent with the 2008 premium increase in the PERS medical plans.  The employer’s share will increase $187 per month for employee only, $468 per month for employee plus one dependent and $574 per month for employee plus 2 or more dependents.  In Year 2 and 3 of the contract the employer will increase those amounts by $50, $55 and $60 per month in each category, each year, so that by Year 3 of the contract the employer will pay approximately $1,100 per month toward family medical premium instead of $353.

In order to focus on dependent medical premium, the unit took no salary increase for Year 1 and then 4% for Year 2 and 3.5% for Year 3.

In another hotly debated issue, the Union won reinstatement rights for any employee promoted and then released during the promotional probation period.  Prior to this agreement a promoted employee released on probation would be terminated from Court employment.

Congratulations to bargaining team members Kerry Wells (Acting Chief Steward), Brenda Cull and UPEC Representative Steve Allen for their hard work in winning this new Agreement!

Modoc Medical Unit Contract Vote

Alturas - UPEC members at Modoc Medical Center are scheduled to vote on a new contract Friday, October 26, 2007 at the Hospital Education Building. UPEC Representative Mike Lyon reported negotiations concluded with a tentative agreement that contains a 3.5% salary increase effective October 6, 2007, 8 hour shifts for CNA’s in the Skilled Nursing Facility, revised position and salary schedule, County to pick up an additional 1% of employees contribution to PERS and a Catistrophic Leave Policy. Additionally, the County agreed to pay 100% of the health insurance premium for “employee only” including the increase in January 2008, employees who opt out of the health insurance will receive $200 per month. There were some minor changes in the dress code and commitment to discuss “uniform allowance” in early 2008 for emplolyees required to wear uniforms. Representative Lyon will explain each proposal in detail and answer questions at the Friday meeting.

Political Captains Make Primary Endorsements

Los Angeles - Despite the fires in Southern California, over 50 Local Union Leaders and Political Captain’s met in Los Angeles to work on endorsements for candidates and initiatives for the February 2008 California Primary.  The leadership endorsed Proposition 92 Community College Funding Fees and Proposition 93 Legislative Term Limits. Endorsements were made for Assembly: AD 13 Tom Ammiano, AD 40 Robert Blumenfield, AD 55 Warren Furutani and AD 80 Victor Perez (Manual). Endorsements for Senate: SD 23 Llyod Levine and SD 33 Harry Sidhu. There was discussion on the current state of affairs in the Federal House and Senate seats. The next meeting of the Political Captains will be March 11th in Sacramento.

Local Communications to Improve

Redding - The Local Executive Board approved a new telephone system at their meeting on October 19th in Weaverville. “This system will greatly improve member and staff communications”, stated Business Manager Chris Darker. The new system should eliminate the problem of getting through to union staff. The current system only allows for 4 people to be in the phone system and additional callers are send directly to voice mail or callers only get a ring tone.The phone system will work with the recently added Member Tracking Program (MTP).  The new local website is in operation and members will be notified by U.S. Mail in the coming weeks about the site. The local hopes to activate a robo-call system early in 2008 to notify and remind members of important meetings and events. “Member communication is a top priority and we will use every possible means of communication that we can afford”, stated Darker.

LIUNA Not Ready to Endorse Candidate

Washington DC - The LIUNA General Executive Board has decided not to make an endorsement at this time in the 2008 presidential primaries. LIUNA provided the major Democratic Candidates an opportunity to address our Leadership Conference in Chicago and took the historic step of webcasting their speeches which, to date, have been viewed online by over 10,000 members.
The Union will continue to engage the members and maintain a dialogue with all of the candidates about the issues that are important to us.