From Labor Day, Monday, September 6, through Sunday September 12, 2010 American labor will observe Union Label Week—the time traditionally set aside for union families and all consumers to make a special effort to support good jobs by looking for union-made goods and union-produced services when they shop.

In these difficult times, when everyone is looking to stretch their paycheck, quality and value take on added importance—and that’s where union products and services beat the competition every time. When you buy union, you’re supporting good jobs in American communities, jobs that provide living wages and benefits, safe working conditions and dignity and respect for work.

So, please join with us on Labor Day and the week that follows to celebrate the skills of union workers and honor the work they do by looking for union-made goods and services.

The Union Label Department has produced a special cartoon graphic to convey the Buy Union message. Please feel free to use it and help us promote the message.

Sincerely,
Richard Kline

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.

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.

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

Evidence that the downturn in the economy is a hit and miss proposition depending on each agency’s circumstances, this Community College District was able to grant a 5% pay increase and also pick up the entire 9% increase in health insurance. This result is due to tying salary to any increases granted teachers. For this year, the 20 district survey conducted by the College District for teachers resulted in the 5% increase for Officers.

In addition, the POA will begin representing Community Service Officers.

Orland employees suffered greatly last year in a cooperative attempt to successfully resolve a gaping hole in the City’s General Fund, taking an eight percent (8%) wage cut by paying PERS Member Contribution, freezing step raises and losing vision and dental coverage.

This year was better, with the cuts taken last year paying off to help right the City’s budget.  No further cuts were taken and the frozen step increases were unfrozen so that employees may once again progress through their 5% merit steps.

The ratified contracts focused on insurance, agreeing to change medical insurance cover from PERS to CSAC-EIA.  Beginning January 1, 2010 the City will pay the entire medical premium for employees and dependents, with future increases beginning January 2012 to be shared on an 80/20 split between the City and employees.

Rebuilding what was lost, the City will re-implement dental and vision coverage beginning January 2012.

Success in these difficult times can sometimes be measured by regaining what was lost.  That is the case this year in Orland where the success in negotiations can be attributed to the cooperative and positive relationship between the City employee, the City Council, City Manager Paul Poczubut and the Union.

The Board has to adopt a balanced budget by October 2, 2010. The discussion regarding the upcoming cuts was continued to the next Board of Supervisors meeting on September 7, 2010. Below are the cuts per department that was discussed at the August 31st meeting, please note that these numbers can be changed by the Board until the budget is adopted.

Sheriff’s Office $225,000
Planning and Public Works $235,000
District Attorney $100,000
Finance $220,000
Personnel $80,000
Clerk of the Board $80,000
Assessor/Recorder $40,000
County Counsel $80,000
Agricultural Commissioner $40,000
Probation $15,000
Total: $1,115,000

De La Torre is a third-generation Laborer who first joined LIUNA in
1985 as a construction laborer and member of Local Union 261 in San
Francisco. De La Torre served as Secretary-Treasurer and Business
Manager of Local 261. In 2009, he was elected Business Manager of the
Northern California District Council of Laborers, a position he will
continue to hold as he serves on the General Executive Board.

“The service, dedication and commitment Oscar has shown to his
Local Union and the Northern California District Council of Laborers
will benefit all of LIUNA,” said General President
O’Sullivan. “He has strengthened a foundation built over
generations and is a true asset to our union.”

During his career, De La Torre has built strong coalitions with
non-profit groups and currently serves on the board of the San
Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association, the Mission Housing
Development Corporation and the Instituto Laboral De La Raza.  De La
Torre also serves LIUNA through his work on the boards of the Northern
California Laborers Pension Fund, the Northern California Laborers
Health and Welfare Fund, and the Training & Retraining Fund and
the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee.

De La Torre called his appointment a “profound honor” and
said, “I look forward to working to make LIUNA even stronger and
to creating more opportunities for the men and women we
represent.”

The Teen Alcohol Safety Act of 2010, or AB2486, would allow party hosts to be sued if they serve alcohol to a minor who is subsequently injured or killed. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, received bipartisan support in the Legislature and is now awaiting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature.

“It’s a rare opportunity in public service to be able to author legislation that literally could save someone’s life,” Feuer said. “This is one of those bills, as we know from the tragedies that precede it. The stakes are very high here.” The bill was enacted in part as a response to the death of Shelby Lyn Allen, a 17-year-old from Redding who died in 2008 from alcohol poisoning after she drank vodka at a friend’s house while the parents were in their bedroom. A national survey released in March showed that the number of 9th through 12th-graders who reported drinking alcohol within the past month rose 11 percent between 2008 and 2009.

UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker who also serves as the Vice President for the Shelby Lyn Allen Alcohol Poisoning Education Foundation, is pleased with the Legislatures response to the Bill and getting it to the Governor in this session.

“This Bill will save lives and bring accountability and awareness of this growing problem to parents and children”, said Darker.  “Underage drinking is not acceptable whether it’s a child’s parent or not. I think it’s unfortunate that there are people who think as long as their children and your children consume alcoholic beverages under their roof that underage drinking is safe”, said Darker.

The Shelby Lyn Allen Alcohol Poisoning Education Foundation has found that many parents are just uniformed about the dangers of excessive drinking practices by teens and just how little it takes for their children to be poisoned. “There are others who could care less about our kid’s health and safety so I guess you can say there is a program for everyone now”, said Darker.

Steve Allen, Senior Labor Relations Representative for UPEC Local 792, and his wife Debbie lost their daughter Shelby on December 20, 2008 to alcohol poisoning and have been working to educate parents and teens on the dangers of alcohol while testifying on several occasions in Sacramento as the Bill worked it’s way through the halls of the capitol.

Feuer said the goal of the bill was not to create new liability for the sake of a lawsuit. “It would be my hope that the liability provisions of this legislation are never pursued in court because no further instances arise where adults provide alcohol to kids,” Feuer said.

California voters understand failure when they see it. The Whitman economic philosophy is simple: if it’s good for Wall Street and big corporations, it must be good for everyone. The millions of Californians who lost their jobs and their homes because of the economic collapse Wall Street created know exactly how dangerous that philosophy is. If Whitman were to run California like eBay, Californians could expect more outsourcing, job cutting and lavish perks for CEOs.

Her latest ad does nothing to answer the growing concerns voters have over her corporate background and Wall Street agenda. No amount of money spent on slick ads can convince voters that the CEO way is the right way. It’s time for Whitman to come clean about her corporate past and history of outsourcing and eliminating jobs.

From: Steve Smith, Communications Director, California Labor Federation

On April 1, 2009 while preparing for the State Mediator’s arrival on April 29, 2009 the Union learned of an agenda item before the Susanville City Council that was to implement a two tiered system on newly hired police officers for the City. That same day the Union responded to the item informing the City that they would be violating the MMBA by moving forward with their proposal. The law Offices of Goyette and Associates were hired by the Union to intercede on behalf of the SPOA. This was all for nought as the City immediately adopted a two tiered system for new hires.

Mediation started on April 21, 2009. Both sides agreed at this meeting to a mediated settlelment proposal that was endorsed by the City Mediator and the SPOA bargaining team. This proposal would implement a new MOU June 30, 2010, and it would remove the two tiered system in its entirety, while increasing uniform allowance by $50 annually and giving the members of the Unit a 1% salary increase. The SPOA members voted to accept this mediated settlement proposal. On May 26, 2009 the Union was notified that the City Council had rejected the proposal.The Union immediately requested to return to mediation. At this point the City stalled all further negotiations and ignored option’s given by the State Mediator on how to proceed. On July 2, 2009 the City responded that they do not wish to mediate any further and they will implement their last offer.

On July 27, 2009 the City writes that they have implemented their last offer and failed to mention anything about a two tiered system. In August 2009 the City prepares a new MOU which also does not address a two-tiered system or any of the other benefits that they have taken away from new hires. This new contract was adopted and signed by the POA and the Union.

From April 2009 until July 2010 the City hired four new Police Officers (since that time one has resigned). These new officers were placed in the PERS 2% at 50 retirement plan although the contract stated 3% at 50. These officer’s were not paid the $65 per month into a IRS Section 125 plan, and the City charged each of these employees 2% of their gross salary each pay period to be used for costs associated with health, dental and vision insurance although no other members of the POA had these deductions.

John McCaslin an attorney for Goyette and Associates was forced to file suit against the City on behalf of the three officers in 2010. This was after repeated attempts by the Union and representative’s from Goyette and Associates to resolve this matter without going through the judicial system. The City, in its infinite wisdom, failed to respond to any request for resolution.

On July 19, 2010 Judge Sokol in the Superior Court of California in and for the County of Lassen held a hearing on the matter. Judge Sokol’s tentative ruling on this date was for the City. After presentations by both sides (John McCaslin appearing on behalf of the SPOA) he took the matter under submission. On July 20, 2010 Judge Sokol reversed his earlier ruling finding for the SPOA and the three officers. This ruling should re-instate these three officer’s and future officer’s to the proper benefits under their current MOU.

Thanks to all of the attorneys at Goyette and Associates that were involved in this case. Special thanks to John McCaslin who was eventually able to get this matter resolved.

2. Effective upon ratification The $50.40 cash payment as well as the $350.00 cash payment for waived insurance shall be eliminated for a period of two years. Both of these items will go back into effect no later than September 1, 2012.

3. Effective upon ratification Sick Leave Incentive will be eliminated for a period of two years. The Sick Leave Incentive will go back into effect no later than September 1, 2012,

4. Effective January 1, 2011 all floating holidays will be eliminated for a period of two years. The floating holidays will be reinstated on January 1, 2013.

5. Effective upon ratification employee’s receiving State Disability Insurance (SDI) may elect to supplement their SDI payment with an amount of paid sick leave (if available) converted in hours that will in combination not exceed their regular salary for the pay period.

This contract will run from September 1, 2010 until August 31, 2012.

Thanks to Nancy, Jessica, Bill, Betty and the two ladies from Social Services who assisted during the day and helped count the ballots.Thank you also to the member’s that came out and voted.