UPEC and National Park Service Reach $997,625.00 Settlement

Monday, July 27, 2009

San Francisco - The United Public Employees of California Local 792 announced today that it had reached a settlement with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) on the blood borne Pathogen (BBP) Grievance. 
The National Park Service signed an agreement with UPEC/LIUNA. The subject settlement agreement between GGNRA and United Public Employees of California (UPEC)/Laborers International Union of North American (LIUNA) covers 148 current or former employees of the park.  Of the 148, forty-six (46) employees are still employed by Golden Gate, and 102 have transferred to the Presidio Trust, other NPS parks, other agencies, retired, resigned or were separated. The Union and GGNRA concluded the grievance with a final settlement totaling $997,625.00
The Union and GGNRA have agreed to the settlement so as to forestall and avoid the continued burden and expense of litigation, and to resolve their outstanding differences on the issue of the occupational exposure of certain employees to blood-borne pathogens.
The group of affected employees includes all employees employed by GGNRA on or after July 1, 1998 in the following job classifications:  Maintenance Worker, Maintenance Worker Leader, Gardener, Gardener Leader, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance Mechanic Leader, Plumber, Pipe-fitter, Laborer, and Custodian, the total number of which is one hundred forty-seven (147).  And that the period covered by the award runs from calendar year 1995 through calendar year 2006.
Dave Ritchie, Federal Employees and Public Sector Representative for UPEC/LIUNA, said “This settlement is an important accomplishment for the employees and GGNRA.  It will allow us to move forward together and is a solid example of what we hope will be a significantly improved relationship between the employees and GGNRA.” “We hope that the resolution of this long-standing dispute will provide a foundation for us to work more collaboratively and proactively with GGNRA on future issues as they arise.”
UPEC/LIUNA Business Manager Chris Darker also praised the agreement, saying:  “It’s truly a great accomplishment of the employees at GGNRA, particularly our stewards led by former GGNRA employee Mike Crahan (retired).  I am very pleased that this agreement marks the end of the dispute and ameliorates our employees’ relationship with GGNRA.”