OHIO - Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to repeal Senate Bill 5 - Governor John Kasich’s attack on middle class jobs that was designed to destroy collective bargaining rights in Ohio. “From the very beginning of the jobs crisis, anti-worker politicians like Governor Kasich have used our poor economy to push a cynical political agenda that favors the richest 1 percent at the expense of the 99%” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
A little over seventy (70) members attended Octobers meeting.Our Union Relations Representative, Christine Perry, started off the meeting with some thoughts on a campaign to present all of the Shasta County employees in a positive light. This would consist of Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) and purchased spots on local media stations. We are looking for a group of our Union members to form a committee to spearhead this endeavor. Christine is a communication and media specialist with many years of experience in this field.
County Administrative Officer Larry Lees then presented an overall picture on the economic health of Shasta County. Mr. Lees spoke on the following topics:
Discretionary revenue continues to decrease. Last year it was down 5% and it is down 3% this year.
“Trigger Cuts” in the state budget. Certain cuts will automatically be made if revenues do not meet there projections. These projections were down over $300 million in one month alone.
There continues to be discussions in cutting or eliminating funding to programs like CalWorks and our local schools. Schools could be closed from 10-12 days more each year with a cut in funding equal to this closure.
The State does not want any retro-contracts. This would include all costs for general assistance including employee wages.
The State prisoner release program has begun. The State has sent in about $100,000 in seed money to start the program.
Mr. Lees personally looks at all jobs hired in his “Controlled Hiring Process”.
Public entity’s across the state have averaged about 10% in layoffs. Shasta County layoffs totaled approximately 2.5%, and all but two employees have been returned back to work.
Mr. Lees is opposed to furloughs as it is only a temporary fix except in small departments of about ten employees or fewer.
Mr. Lees believes that numerous jobs have been saved in Shasta County because of the sacrifices and support of the County workforce.
Of the 58 California Counties Shasta County ranks around 29 or 30. California has the 8th largest economy in the world.
Shasta County was forced to borrow approximately $2 million from reserves for law enforcement.
The Shasta County current reserve is at 2-3% of the budget and should be 5-10%.
The good news is that Shasta County is financially stable, unlike some of our neighboring counties.
The CAO is afraid of burning out employees and he is looking at ways to recognize employees without a cost.
Discussion on the current health insurance and administrations desire to go to a two tiered plan. The healthcare liability for our county is 100-140 million annually.
The CAO has created a tri-fold document letting the public know what the employees do for the citizens of our county.
The employees responded that they are all stressed out to the maximum and no one can afford any more cuts to salary or benefits.
There was discussion on the inequity of salaries and benefits between line staff and management.
The employees spoke to excessive workloads because of eliminated or vacant positions.
Currently we have employees who are eligible and receiving some of the same services we manage for the rest of the community.
It is difficult to retain employees with lowered salaries and benefits.
There were several questions asked of Mr. Lees that he wrote down and stated that he would have to research. Mr. Lees promised to get the answers back to me so I can publish them on this website.
The employees thanked Mr. Lees for his time and his candid comments about the County’s economy.
Our next meeting will be held on November 29, 2011 (Tuesday) starting at 5:30PM at 1800 Park Marina Drive.
RED RIBBON WEEK, October 23rd is National “RED RIBBON WEEK”. Many businesses, schools and individuals will be wearing “red ribbons”. This event serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to remind everyone of the need to work together to make youth aware of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
LIUNA 09-30-11: Statement of Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, On Occupy Wall Street.
Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2011) - The most valuable asset in America isn’t Wall Street, it is working people.
Yet in America today, millions of working people are jobless and are losing their homes, their hopes and their dreams. Meanwhile, corporations are making record profits and the most profitable among them pay no taxes, shifting more wealth from the working and middle class to the rich. This ill-gotten wealth is being used to finance an unprecedented assault on working people and unions in states across the country and in Washington, D.C.
Wall Street caused our economic crisis, and yet corporations are attempting to force working people to pay for it.
The only way to turn back the assault is to strengthen unions and build movements, such as Occupy Wall Street.
The workers who build America-the half-million men and women of LIUNA-are united behind the fight against corporate tyranny and for economic prosperity for all and stands with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City and across the United States.
The half-million members of LIUNA-the Laborers’ International Union of North America - are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are pround to build America.
WASHINGTON D.C. - The International Union that UPEC Local 792 is affiliated with will increase dues over the next five (5) years. Local unions will be increasing dues beginning in November 2011 to meet the first mandate. Dues will increase to $39.50 by the end of 2011 then increase by one dollar in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Business Manager Chris Darker has been able to keep much of the increases in the past within the local and will negotiate with the international to do the same going forward. The Local has not raised it’s dues in over a decade. Dues are raised to keep up with ongoing increases in expenses much like any other business. Local 792 has cut expenses and staff as membership has fallen since 2008. The Local staff have recently added several new bargaining units which has helped to minimize the losses but has also increased the workload.
The COLEMAN NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY is sponsoring their Annual Salmon Festival, October 15th at the Coleman Fish Hatchery Road in Anderson from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The festival offers many educational exhibits, including a look into the hatchery operations, some really big salmon in the holding pens as well as views of salmon on the fish ladders and in Battle Creek following their natural instinct to spawn. This FREE EVENT is attended by thousands yearly and best attended by taking a free shuttle bus from the Anderson Wal-Mart Parking lot. Come see what your fellow UPEC Local 792 members are doing at Coleman Fish Hatchery.