eNewsletter - November 13, 2009
Contra Costa County Begins Bargaining First Contract
Alameda County Chapters Hold Bargaining Strategy Session
SF Court Professionals Win Grievance
EBMUD Take Home Vehicle Privileges Restored Prior to Arbitration
San Francisco Redevelopment Chapter Elects New Leaders
Union Celebrates Sarah Clark
New Staff at Local 21
Support the SMCCLC's Union Food & Toy Drive
Save-The-Date! Oakland Workers Rising, November 19
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - SF & East Bay Workshops
Contra Costa County Begins Bargaining First Contract
Local 21 members in Contra Costa County have been busy preparing for negotiations and bargaining over ground rules for the past several months, and officially began bargaining their first union contract yesterday, November 12, with Local 21's elected negotiating committee.
Last year the County Board of Supervisors approved severe cuts to active and retiree medical benefits for then-unrepresented employees, which will soon take effect. For some members, the cuts represent increases in employee costs by over $300 per month, depending on the health plan. Addressing healthcare increases will be one of several primary issues for the chapter and negotiating committee, which includes John Allen, Leona Hartmann, Melanie Seton Mintz, Rex Fujikawa, Francie Wise, Cindy Collins, Win Jamile, Sue Guest, Teresa Notarmaso, Ralph White, Chuck Jeffries, Susan Gohs, Ruth Atkin, Chris Boyer, and Nancy Anderson.
Additionally, the chapter is developing a Contract Action Team (CAT), and is in the process of recruiting members to support the bargaining team and help keep the entire chapter membership informed about happenings at and around the table. For more information about the CAT, contact Alex Tonisson, Local 21 Representative/Organizer at 415.864.2100 x137.
TOP
Alameda County Chapters Hold Bargaining Strategy Session
Bargaining team members from five Local 21 chapters in Alameda County met on October 29 to discuss important steps towards improving communication and coordination between the chapters during bargaining. Chapter representatives from the Alameda County Counsel's Association, Alameda County Engineers Association, Civil Engineers Management Unit (CEMU), Alameda County Public Defenders, and Alameda County Chapter (Public Works & Zone 7) made a number of key decisions that will strengthen the Union's efforts at the bargaining table, including jointly opposing the County's proposals to introduce first-time changes in our contracts that have not been negotiated with other bargaining units, and any changes to employee medical contributions.
In the meantime, the Union is conducting its own internal research to support its positions as it prepares for a high-level meeting with the County in the near future, and another internal meeting with Chapter representatives in November.
TOP
SF Court Professionals Win Grievance
The San Francisco Court Professionals' chapter experienced a huge victory last week when they won a grievance concerning access to their training fund. The chapter's Probate Investigators and Examiners are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education each calendar year, which may be fulfilled through AOC-sponsored education. Throughout the last few months all requests for travel reimbursements to attend AOC-sponsored education have been denied on the basis of budgetary reasons, specifically a freeze on training expenditures put into effect April 9. The Court's CEO, Gordon Park-Li, suggested we seek alternative, no-cost forms of training to fulfill these requirements including in-house trainings. However, the law requires these trainings be facilitated by a licensed professional.
The Court Professionals' MOU states "The Court shall allocate thirty thousand dollars for each year of this Agreement for the tuition and training reimbursement for the use by classifications represented by Local 21." After Local 21's initial meeting, the Court stated that the training fund would still exist, but could not be accessed during the expenditure freeze. The Union maintains that the expenditure freeze, which was not negotiated, does not supersede the MOU. On October 29, we received the Court's response granting us our requested remedy, access to our training fund and a quarterly report on its status. Our members will now be able to use the training fund they bargained for to attend training sessions that will help them meet their annual requirements.
TOP
EBMUD Take Home Vehicle Privileges Restored Prior to Arbitration
Over ten years ago the East Bay Municipal Utility District wanted to tighten the rules that governed which employees were allowed to take home District vehicles. Some employees, however, were hired with an understanding that having a District vehicle for travel between home and work was a benefit of their employment. In fact, it was even listed on public job announcements. The Union entered into negotiations at that time over the change in rules and ultimately reached an agreement that "grandfathered" employees under the old rule, and was written into the District's procedures for take home vehicles.
Earlier this year, the District announced it was unilaterally terminating the grandfather clause as part of several cost saving measures. It offered to meet and confer over the "effects" of the change, but not the actual decision to terminate the grandfather clause. The Union argued that the negotiated agreement could not be unilaterally terminated and that without mutual agreement, we were not willing to meet and confer simply over the "effects" of the change. The District's position was that even though the agreement was memorialized in correspondence to us, there was no signed agreement and they could, therefore, terminate the 10-year-old policy without our consent.
Local 21 filed a grievance and quickly moved to agreement on an arbitrator and date for arbitration. With only a few weeks before the arbitration date, the District and the Union reached mutual agreement, in the interest of continuing a generally good relationship between the parties, that the District would restore the take-home vehicle privilege to the seven remaining grandfathered employees. The settlement agreement will now serve as the signed, written agreement between the parties, enforceable through arbitration if necessary. We are pleased we could settle this grievance amicably and without incurring further costs.
TOP
San Francisco Redevelopment Chapter Elects New Leaders
Members of the San Francisco Redevelopment Employee Association chapter elected new chapter officers, At-Large Executive Committee members, and Shop Stewards for a two year term, beginning January 2010.
Newly elected and reelected leaders include chapter President Stan Muraoka, Vice President Ricky Tijani, Treasurer Lily Louie, and Secretary Michele Davis, At-Large Executive Committee Members Gabriela Cardona, Heidi Gewertz, Mike Grisso, Tracie Reynolds, and Pam Sims, and Shop Stewards Su-Syin Chou, Ferry Lo, Alma Basurto, George Bridges, Christina Garcia, and Rosa Torres.
TOP
Union Celebrates Sarah Clark
Sarah Clark, longtime Local 21 Executive Assistant, recently moved back to Iowa to be closer to her father after more than 15 years of work at our union. Sarah always listened to our problems and found solutions, brought order and structure to our local, and has taken care of hundreds of us over the years.
On Friday, October 30, over 80 Local 21 members, staff, and friends gathered to wish Sarah well and send her off in style at a union-hosted party with hors d'oeuvres and drinks. During the festivities, Local 21 President Dean Coate presented Sarah with a plaque as a small token of our appreciation. There's no question that Sarah will truly be missed by all.
TOP
New Staff at Local 21
Andrea Prebys joined our staff as the new Assistant to the Executive Director. She has seven years professional union experience in both administrative and field organizing. Much of her experience involves working closely with public sector government professionals, both union members and the unorganized. Before organizing unions, she graduated with honors from Linfield College and completed her undergraduate thesis analyzing the correlation between gender oppression and organizational structure of national peace organizations.
Sharon Jenkins is Local 21's newest Representative/Organizer. She has worked in labor for over ten years as an Organizer and Field Representative, organizing low wage service sector employees and professional health care workers in first contract campaigns. Most recently, she worked with the American Federation of Government Employees in a campaign to win collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers. Sharon is originally from Philadelphia, and attended Howard University where she majored in Journalism.
TOP
Support the SMCCLC's Union Food & Toy Drive
The San Mateo County Central Labor Council needs your help to provide food, toys, and hardship assistance to union members and their families. All Local 21 members are encouraged to donate nonperishable, high-protein canned foods and new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Checks can be made payable to "SMCUCA (San Mateo County Union Community Alliance) Food Drive." All donations may be brought or mailed to the San Mateo County Central Labor Council at 1153 Chess Drive #200, Foster City, CA 94404. To schedule a pickup of any donated items, call 650-341-7711.
TOP
Save-The-Date! Oakland Workers Rising, November 19
Oakland hospitality workers have been facing shorter working hours, layoffs, and speedups. During negotiations, hospitality companies have proposed health-care takeaways and deep cuts into the hearts of the East Bay's working class. This is while companies like Morgan Stanley, who own the Claremont, received $10 billion in federal bailout money!
Unite HERE! Local 2850 wants you to join in its march to fight back and protect hotel and food service workers on November 19 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM through downtown Oakland! Meet in front of the Downtown Oakland Marriott, and march for justice for hospitality workers! For more information, call Lian Alan 510-219-6491.
TOP
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - SF & East Bay Workshops
Do you find yourself adjusting to layoffs, worrying about the reduction in your investments, watching home equity disappear, maxing out credit cards, and struggling to make ends meet? Learn how to reduce stress in your life by attending this free classes for Local 21 members. The sessions, led by Kitty Costello, M.A., MFT and Richard Epstein, PhD, MFT, will take place on:
- Monday, November 16 from Noon to 1 PM at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Sycip Family Conference Room, 4th floor (no food allowed).
- Monday, December 14 from Noon to 1 PM at the Alameda County Law Library, Conference Room #3, 125 12th St., Oakland (brown bag lunches are permitted).
TOP
L21 Express is the weekly email publication of IFPTE Local 21. Local 21 represents more than 7,000 Bay Area professional public employees. Main Office Phone: 415.864.2100 South Bay Phone: 408.291.2200
