Union Responds to Shasta County $7.5 Million Debt

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

REDDING - Just when you think you have seen the worst, local government is taking another hit. Shasta County CEO Larry Lees announced yesterday that revenues from local taxes and Vehicle License Fees (VLF) dropped about 27 percent. “We never could have predicted that kind of drop” said Lees in a meeting yesterday with UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker. In that meeting yesterday afternoon, Darker asked Lees to hold a series of meetings for his UPEC members in the General and Professional Unit for some straight talk to his members. “These meetings need to be on County time with you (Lees) and two members of the County Board of Supervisors if you want our members to consider bailing out the County. Our members have a lot of questions that need answers to make an informed decision”, said Darker.  Lees said he didn’t know if he could close county offices for the meeting(s). “I think the public will understand and perhaps get a view of things to come”, said Darker.

UPEC Staff and member negotiators agreed to meet with County Officials on October 14th over the $5.5 million shortfall and completed delivering that news to their members on October 20th. UPEC members have met every week to discuss the $5.5 million shortfall and completed a series of questions last monday for CEO Lees.

Darker told CEO Lees that if his members agree to help financially that it WILL NOT be made up solely on the backs of employees and their concessions. “I am ashamed to admit that we have members who already qualify for the social programs they administer and a cut in their compensation may force them to move to the other side of the counter”, said Darker. Darker has already told the County that they can’t cut anymore employees and provide the same service level and that the County is going to need to cut services and perhaps even close a few days a month just so the employees can keep up with their current work load. “Asking those few employees that are left to do more work for less pay and benefits with less hours to complete the work just isn’t humane nor humanly possible”, Darker said.