UPEC Meets With SF Labor Leader

Thursday, March 13, 2008

San Francisco - UPEC Leadership, Staff and Presidio Trust Unit negotiators met at the San Francisco Labor Council headquarters this morning to discuss issues concerning the Presidio Trust negotiations. Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulsen met with Business Manager Chris Darker and the bargaining team to gain the support of the Council. The UPEC Executive Board approved Darker’s request to become affiliated with the San Francisco Labor Council on March 4th. UPEC now joins over 150 other labor unions who belong to the Council.  Business Manager Chris Darker and Executive Director Tim Paulsen will finalize a strategic plan in the new few weeks. UPEC’s Chief negotiator Steve Allen and the bargaining team meet today and Friday with management to continue negotiations.

Alturas City Units (POA and General) Ratify Contracts

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Both City of Alturas bargaining Units recently ratified their individual Memorandums of Understanding with the City after starting negotiations back in July 2007.

The City of Alturas Peace Officer Association settled a one year contract that gave the members a 5% salary increase that was retroactive to October 1, 2007. The City also agreed to pick up any increase in the health insurance premiums during the life of this contract. The pay for Sergeants was also increased approximately 2.5%. Sergeant Tex Dowdy and Officer Wes Gray worked hard for their members in getting this contract finalized.

The City of Alturas General Unit also ratified a one year contract with the City. This contract gave the members a 3% salary increase that was retroactive to October 1, 2007 and the City agreed to pick up any increase in the health insurance premiums during the life of the contract. The City also agreed to a uniform allowance increase of $50.00 annually. The biggest item for the member’s was the City agreeing to place the members of this Unit in the PERS 3% at age 60 retirement plan. Marylou Allen, Rod Chainey and Kim Dodds were instrumental in making sure that this proposal was eventually ratified.

The City of Alturas has a unique bargaining process in which two Council members conduct the bargaining for the City. The Union would like to thank George Andreasen and Keith Jacques for representing the City during the bargaining process. The Union would also like to thank City Treasurer Kathie Alves for her assistance.

Unfair Practice Charge Settled to Union’s Satisfaction

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Background - The Butte Community College POA represents police officers and sergeants that patrol the college campus near Chico. The unit of 4 peace officers has been engaged in a protracted labor negotiation with the College that was ultimately settled last fall. During negotiations however, the College unilaterally changed a long-standing practice of granting extra time off (CTO) to officers during the summer weeks when regular school was not in session. The practice developed many years ago when classified employees reduced their work hours during the summer session. The officers, not able to reduce their patrol hours, were granted 2 hours of CTO per week for the ten weeks of summer.

The practice, although well documented in employees payroll records, was apparently never formally approved by the College District Board of Trustees.

Nonetheless, UPEC took the position that the District could not unilaterally cut an established benefit and directed Senior Labor Representative Steve Allen to file charges with the State Public Employment Relations Board. Charges were filed alleging that the District violated state bargaining laws and a settlement conference was held in Sacramento that lasted all of 30 minutes when the District would not budge from its position.

Recently, however, District Administrators, to their credit, took a more enlightened approach and offered to grant two additional days of annual vacation to make up for the lost CTO. Union members decided this was a reasonable compromise and agreed to settle the matter prior to the formal hearing scheduled for later this month. POA President Doug Sloan has represented his members diligently throughout the negotiation process and Unfair Practice Charge procedures and should be recognized for sticking to his guns on this issue so that a settlement was ultimately offered.

CASE CLOSED!

Siskiyou DSA Contract Ratified

UPEC affiliate, the Siskiyou County DSA, is pleased to announce it has settled a 7 month impasse with the County. The impasse began last summer, 2007, when the parties could not resolve basic pay issues that revolved around the DSA’s stated intent to bring salaries up to the average pay of comparable agencies, using a list that the County had previous recognized. An initial attempt to mediate a solution failed after a one day effort. DSA members raised dues to fund an impasse campaign that included media advertising, direct action at Board of Supervisor meetings and a community outreach program that culminated in a highly successful food drive during the holiday season launched in coordination with local faith-based groups. However, none of these activities resulted in an immediate settlement and the DSA settled in for a protracted labor dispute.

The Board of Supervisors decided to let matters sit rather than to unilaterally adopt a last, best offer (3% for one year is what was offered at impasse) but then, importantly, agreed to jump start the negotiation process in January, 2008 rather than waiting until the more typical April - May negotiation cycle tied to the County budget process per law when there is no contract in place. The earlier start to negotiations can be attributed to the efforts of DSA President Mike Karges who initiated many discussions with County Supervisors and administrative staff in the CAO’s office to advocate the DSA’s position.

The parties agreed to enter into mediation again, this time with a larger DSA team and very importantly, two of the Board of Supervisors. Also impacting negotiations was the developing State of California budget crisis which caused the DSA to be concerned about greeting a labor contract in place to guarantee raises and protect medical and retirement benefits as it appears the state budget problems may have an impact for several years.

DSA President Mike Karges provided the following summary of the settlement:

Term - through June 30, 2011
Salary - 6% March 2008, 4% July 2009, 4% July 2010
Uniform - Increase $175 to $825 annually
Holiday Pay - paid on a shift basis (8’s, 10’s, 12’s)
CTO - Increase the CTO bank from 150 to 300 hours
Shift Differential - increase from 2.5% to 3.5%
County paid Short Term Disability Program
Increase Resident Deputy Pay for Happy Camp deputies from $75 to $150 per month

UPEC negotiator Steve Allen assisted the DSA and commented on the settlement, “A labor negotiation impasse is a real test of whether the members will hold together or not. The DSA passed this test which led to the settlement. DSA President Mike Karges should be commended for stepping up and leading the Association through this very difficult impasse process to a successful conclusion.”