Local Nominations Held

Sunday, May 06, 2012

REDDING - Local 792 held nominations yesterday for the Executive Board seats. Assistant Regional Manager Ken Casarez from the Sacramento Regional Office conducted the election. Chris Darker will continue as Business Manager through through 2015. Most of the current Board Members will continue. Shasta Region: Steve Suske, Tom Pringle and Teri Bono, Trinity Region: Mike Cottone, Lassen Region: Keith Coker, Modoc Region: Steve Jacques, Glen-Colusa Region: Larry Olsen, Butte Region; Robert Thomas, Sacramento Region: Steve Souza. The San Francisco Seat will have an election between current Board member Paul Honn and Chief Steward Norm Infusino. Vacant seats are Siskiyou, Santa Clara and Monterey.

KNOW WHEN YOU SHOULD GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM

Thursday, May 03, 2012

* Heart Attack Symptoms:
Women are less likely to have the stereotypical chest, left arm, or jaw pain, so you should also look for other symptoms women get, life shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, weakness, or nausea, or unexplained sweating and fatigue.
* Signs of Stroke:
Signs of stroke like sudden numbness or weakness is a limb or one side of your face; sudden speech difficulties (such as talking gibberish or jumbling words); trouble seeing out of one or both eyes; unexpected dizziness or loss of balance; or an excruciating, inexplicable headache.
* A Blow to the Head that results in loss of consciousness, a seizure, or vomiting (especially if you vomit more than once), even if it happens a few hours after you hit your head.
* Any loss of consciousness or fainting - even if you think it’s just because you haven’teaten all day.  It might be nothing, but it could also signal a heart or circulation problem or even a stroke.  “There’s no way to determine the cause on your own,” says emergency physician Richard O’Brien, MD, an associate professor in the division of medicine in the clinical sciences at the Commonwealth Medical College of Pennsylvania.
* A Possible Broken bone.
Red flags include a joint or limb that looks drastically misshapen or out of place, swelling and bruising, and not being able to bear weight on an injured foot or leg.
* Bleeding that doesn’t stop when you apply pressure for 10 to 20 minutes; any wound that impairs your ability to function (like a leg injury that bleeds like crazy when you bend your knee); or a gaping wound that fully penetrates the skin (so you can see muscle, for example).
* Sudden disorientation or confusion, like not knowing where you are.  This could be a sign of stroke, seizure, dehydration, or other major problem.
* A Serious Burn that covers an area larger than 2 or 3 inches or goes all the way around an area like the wrist; breaks the outer layer of skin; or causes numbness.
* Repeated episodes of vomiting that make it impossible to keep fluids down, or nonstop diarrhea that keeps you in the bathroom either of which can quickly lead to dehydration.
* Severe Pain halfway down your back on either side of your spine, which could signal a kidney stone or infection.  Any severe abdominal pain also warrants immediate care.  Ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, and gallstones are a few of the possible causes.

MAY is PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL MONTH

Since May of 1988 a ceremony has been held in May to recognize officers who have died in the line of duty.  This May the Ceremony will be held Thursday, May 17th beginning at 11 am on the front steps of the Shasta County Court House.  In honor of the slain officers a special Memorial Run is held. The run consists of Law Enforcement Officers running one mile for each officers who died in the line of duty.  The runners pass a police baton at each mile.  The Baton bears the names of each slain officer and the date they died.  Over the years a monument has been dedicated along with the formation of the PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL COALITION.  Please join us in taking time to remember and honor the slain peace officers who have given their lives to serve the North State.

ATTENTION GOLFERS

STILL TIME TO SIGN UP FOR THIS FUN EVENT
UPEC Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
Saturday, June 9th, 2012, 12 Noon shotgun
Gold Hills Golf Club, Redding, Ca.
4-person scramble
$99.00 per person: includes Green Fees, Range Balls, and golf Cart
Dinner, Prizes, Live Entertainment included.

Make Checks payable to: UPEC Local 792,

Milpitas Public Works Director Resigns: Over 100 LiUNA Members Picket against Outsourcing (updated)

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

MILPITAS - In an unexpected move today, Milpitas Public Works Director Greg Armendariz resigned his position effective immediately. This marks the 5th City Department head in just 12 months to jump the ship steered by City Manager Tom Williams. Union officials questioned if Armendariz is the latest “fall guy” for the City Manager. Armendariz presented the proposal to outsource his own department. UPEC/LiUNA members dressed in “We Build America” orange tee shirts filled the sidewalks in front of the Milpitas City Hall last night. City employees carried signs in protest of the April 17th surprise proposal and decision by the Milpitas City Council to outsource the Public Works Department. “This is union busting plain and simple”, stated UPEC Local 792 Business Manager Chris Darker who attended the picket yesterday evening. “City Manager Tom Williams made the recommendation to not only lay off our members but also to outsource our work! The City has to pay equal wage and benefits to the outsourced workers so what other reason would the City manager have for outsourcing our work?” said Darker. The City Resolution 5981 also requires the union be granted a 120 day notice and there be public hearings conducted neither of which have been done. The Union believes Williams was trying to slide another one past the City Council and the union. City Attorney Michael Ogaz has stated that the City has an unfettered discretion to lay off employees under the Municipal Code however this is subject of course to meet and confer obligations imposed by state law over the effects of the layoffs. What City Attorney Ogaz hasn’t acknowledged is that under the State Law, the City must provide proper advance notice and allow for meet and confer sessions prior to the decision to outsource city functions to third-party contractors where these are undertaken primarily as cost-cutting measures rather than a cessation of the City providing those services. These notice and meet and confer requirements have not been honored by the City, although the decision and direction to proceed with plans to outsource was made on April 17th, 2012. Several members of the union and the community spoke against the April 17th decision made by the Council. Concerns were raised about the type and character of people who might fill the positions particularly in the parks and ball fields. Darker told the Council it was the third year in a row he has had to appear and demand the City Manager “meet and confer” over changes in working conditions. “My guess is the City Manager didn’t tell them (Council) about the resolution and already had his layoff notices ready to be mailed. You would think after three consecutive years of cuts Williams would know he can’t get away with sneaking one past us”, said Darker.

On Monday United Public Employees of California Local 792 filed a case with the California Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) alleging the City violated several sections of the California Government code including the failure to meet and confer over changes in working conditions.

City Workers to Protest Outsourcing of Public Works

Monday, April 30, 2012

Milpitas, CA. - The City of Milpitas Public Works employees announced today they will protest the City Managers recommendation to eliminate their jobs and outsource their positions.

On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Milpitas Public Works employees, members of the United Public Employees of California/ Laborers International Union Local 792, and working class people affiliated with the South Bay Labor Council will conduct an informational picket. The picket will take place from 5:00 pm—7:00 pm immediately prior to the City Council meeting at Milpitas City Hall at 455 E. Calaveras Blvd.

The Milpitas City Council recently approved a recommendation to outsource core city services currently provided by dedicated, trained and knowledgeable city employees, the very same employees who gave up a 15 – 16% reduction in salary or equivalent just last year following a previous year of furloughs.

According to UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker, who represents the affected City workers’, “The City Council’s terrible decision was based on inaccurate information, trusting that the information provided by City Manager Tom Williams was factual.  The employees submitted an alternative budget reduction strategy that was rejected without reasonable and honest evaluation.” Darker added, “As proof of the City’s misplaced priorities, the City Council granted the City Manager a two year retroactive pay increase, enhanced his benefit package for him and his family, and added additional job protection while our members took significant pay cuts.”

Following the informational picket a number of employee representatives and concerned members of the community are expected to address the City Council requesting a more reasonable approach to reducing the budget deficit be considered and that the employee plan actually be looked at before being dismissed.