Trinity County Behavioral Health Transportation Aides Win Battle for Pay

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

WEAVERVILLE - Back in October 2007 the Transportation Aides for Behavioral Health were told by their Director that they would be paid for their on-call/standby hours that they had previously done for free. The Director was true to her word and the drivers were paid for their on-call hours during the month of November in 2007. The County Administrative Office (CAO) at the time learned that this pay issue had not gone through the proper bureaucratic paperwork and he rescinded the pay pending the Board of Supervisor’s approval. The Union was contacted and approved the pay and offered to write a letter acknowledging this addition to the contract. The Union was told that the letter was not necessary and the item was going to be taken in front of the Board. Several months later the Union was contacted by Trinity County Steward and U.P.E.C. Executive Board President Mike Cottone who told us that the drivers still had not received their standby pay. The Union found that the documents had not been taken to the Board of Supervisors as promised, however, we were told that it soon would be. A short time after this the CAO resigned his position with the County. A new CAO was appointed and again the paperwork went missing. At this point it was suggested to the drivers to stop taking on-call schedules and to let the Director know why they were chossing this course of action. After a letter from the Union the paperwork was completed and ready to take to the Board of Supervisor’s in July of 2008, however, the new CAO did not think that retroactive pay back to December of 2007 was appropriate (even though it had been promised by the former CAO). The Union wrote to the new CAO explaining the circumstances and after several telephone calls and the support of the Director of Behavioral Health, Nancy Antoon, we were able to gain the CAO’s support for the new pay and the retroactive pay.

On July 15, 2008 this item was brought forth to the Trinity County Board of Supervisor’s. The Director, who has stood behind her employees from the beginning, again stepped up to the plate and explained everything to the Board when she was asked to do so. After asking a few questions Supervisor Howard Freeman stated that the minimal pay they were giving these employees was little compensation for the job that they performed for the County, and he went on to commend each of the aides for the job that they do. The Board unanimously voted to pay all transportation aides $2.50 per hour for standby/on-call pay and this pay would be retroactive back to December 2007.

Thanks to Transportation Aide, Shirley Kapps, whose help made this process reach a successful conclusion.