UPEC FILES FOR A CITY OF REDDING UNIT

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

The City of Redding has over 100 unrepresented employees, many of whom are concerned that the current City Council majority is poised to cut their pay and benefits.  This concern is justified given that at least a couple of the current council members ran for office and were successfully re-elected on a campaign platform of exactly that - reduce employee’s pay and benefits!  And last November, Redding voters (the few who did vote) cast votes by a large margin to ask City Hall to negotiate reductions in PERS Member Contribution paid for employees and also to reduce City contributions to retiree medical premiums.  So it is no idle concern to be worried about cuts in your pay and benefits if you work at the City of Redding and are not Union represented!

After a series of meetings with unrepresented employees, UPEC prepared the paperwork to request the City approve a bargaining unit of about 50 employees.  That petition was filed Friday January 28 and submitted with employee signatures gathered by employee volunteers!

We will hear from the City soon, the nature of which will tell us whether we have a fight on our hands for recognition or not.  Staff is excited about the likelihood of a new bargaining unit to represent in our very own backyard and hometown!