Political Report - End of Session

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

SACRAMENTO - UPEC Legislative Advocate Libby Sanchez rounds up the Sacramento Legislative Session. Click on Business Managers Office for details.

Trucks Needed

REDDING - Have a truck?  Click on Business Managers Office.

UPEC PAC Makes Endorsements

Photo left to right: Redding City Council Candidates Sandra Speer, Ken Murray and Francie Sullivan. UPEC Local 792 Executive Board member Tom Pringle, Shasta County BOS Les Baugh, UPEC Local 792 Business Manager Chris Darker and UPEC Local 792 President Mike Cottone at the Five Counties Central Labor Council Picnic in Anderson, California.

REDDING - The United Public Employees of California Local 792 Political Action Committee met with members on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at it’s quarterly PAC meeting to discuss candidates and ballot measure’s. The Board decided not to endorse the current members of the Redding CIty Council who are running for re-election. Redding Councilmen Bosetti and Jones are not being supported by organized labor and Mary Stegall will not be seeking another term. The PAC selected Sandra Speer, former City of Redding HR Director and current HR Director of Northern California Rehab Hospital in Redding, Ken Murray, former Redding City Councilman and Francie Sullivan, former Supervisor for Shasta County Board of Supervisors.

Modoc County Voters Appprove Hospital District and Tax

Friday, September 03, 2010

On August 31, 2010 a special election was held in Modoc County for all landowners who lived within a twenty mile radius of Modoc Medical Center. The County has been in dire straits and has been facing the possibility of bankruptcy because of a 14 million dollar debt. This debt has accrued over the last ten or more years based, for the most part, on debts incurred by Modoc Medical Center.

United Public Employees of California (UPEC), Local 792, saw that there was a real problem and without a hospital district and a parcel tax the hospital would be forced to close its doors which would impact all of the residents of Modoc County. Business Manager, Chris Darker, and Union Relations Representative, Christine Perry, met with the “Save Our Hospital Committee” and saw the need for financial support. The information that was gathered was taken back to the UPEC Executive Board who voted to send the committee $1,000 to help with their campaign. This was all done with the full knowledge that if the campaign was successful UPEC would have to work to seek re-representation of the members and that the existing Memorandum of Understanding would be null and void once the new district took effect. The other alternative was that if the vote failed, the hospital would close its doors, and the approximately one hundred employees, that we represent, would be out of jobs.

On Election Day approximately 63% of the eligible voters showed up at the polls. Both measures required a two-thirds approval (super majority). The tax measure will assess a $195 a year parcel tax on all land owners within this twenty mile radius and should generate approximately $3.1 million a year for the hospital. This measure passed with 68% of the vote. The other measure was to create an independent health care district. This measure passed with 70% of the vote.

The hospital will be giving each land owner that is charged the parcel tax a $150 credit voucher for the hospital for services rendered. This credit voucher system will then be reviewed annually.

This election is the first step in getting the entire County of Modoc back on the road to recovery and saving many jobs.

Special Meeting for SCGU/SCPBU; UPEC to Host PERS Retirement Workshop

Thursday, September 02, 2010

REDDING - UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker announced today that there will be two (2) workshops held at the Redding Office on Wednesday, September 8, 2010. The first is at 10:00am and the second is at 5:30pm at the UPEC Training Center. The workshop is 90 minutes to 2 hours.
The workshop is sponsored by the Californians for Healthcare and Retirement Security (CHCRS) based out of Sacramento. UPEC is a member of CHCRS a multi-public employee union coalition representing thousands of State, County, City and Special District employees throughout California.
The workshop will reveal the latest polling data on public employee benefits, the facts and concerns related to public employee benefits. “This is an interesting look at PERS and I highly recommend all union leaders and members to attend”, said Darker. Members may call or email Patti Wyatt at UPEC (245-1890 or ) to make a reservation. Presentations are also being made across the state. Business Manager Chris Darker is a representative on the CHCRS Committee.

We are currently looking into the possibility of broadcasting the meeting over the internet as well. An update on whether or not this will be an option will be posted to the website as soon as possible.

Flu Season Approaches

For those who are interested or concerned about the upcoming flu season and where to get vaccinated, here is some useful information.  Remember that there are usually also several flu clinics (even a drive-through has been done in several past years) so watch for more information to come.

From CNN - Five important things to know about this years’ flu:

All people 6 months and older need to be vaccinated
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the influenza vaccination for all people ages 6 months and older. This is a change from previous guidance, which stressed the need for vaccination for a few groups including the elderly, the chronically ill and women who were planning to become pregnant. The advisory committee says that with the expanded recommendations they hope to minimize confusion about who should and should not get the annual vaccine.

Adults will only need one flu vaccine this year
Unlike last year, when both a seasonal flu vaccine and an H1N1 flu vaccine were recommended, this year only one vaccine is necessary.
Each year, government health officials make predictions on which influenza viruses will be the most prominent to circulate, and a vaccine is created to combat those specific strands. The vaccine approved for this year protects against the H1N1 virus that circulated in 2009, as well as H3N2 and an influenza B virus. The CDC answers several questions about the 2010-2011 inactivated flu vaccine on their website.

Some children need two doses of the flu vaccine
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children between ages 6 months and 9 years who have never been vaccinated, or who received only one dose of the H1N1 flu shot last year, should have a minimum of two doses this season. On the Healthy Children website, the AAP provides information for parents to help you determine the number of influenza vaccine doses your child needs.

Flu vaccines are available now in most locations
Flu manufacturers began shipping doses of the flu shot and nasal spray in August, and many pharmacies have already begun offering them. Here is a comparison of prices for some national pharmacy chains where flu shots are currently available.
Rite Aid pharmacies offer the seasonal flu shot for $24.99 and many insurance plans cover the cost of the shots.
Walgreens is offering seasonal flu shots for $29.99 and the FluMist Intranasal Spray for $34.99.
CVS is offering seasonal flu shots for $29.95. The cost is covered by many insurance plans.
Wal-Mart offers the seasonal flu shot for $24.00, or the co-pay as designated by your insurer.
Target pharmacies are offering the seasonal flu vaccine for $24.00, and some clinic locations also will offer the nasal spray for $36.
A Flu Clinic Locator from the American Lung Association will be available in late September to help you find local clinic in your area.

A new high-strength vaccine is available for people ages 65+
This year an alternative vaccine that provides a higher dosage will be available for people ages 65 and older. Fluzone High-Dose, an inactivated influenza vaccine produced by the drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, was approved by the FDA in December 2009.
“Elderly people have less responsive immune systems,” explains Edelman. “The higher dose induces a stronger immune response, and provides better protection for this age group.”

More detailed information about this vaccine option is available on the CDC website.

For the full article, visit:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/02/flu.guide/index.html?hpt=C1