eNewsletter - December 11, 2009
Local 21 Making News in Contra Costa: Members Rally to Stop Healthcare Cuts
Richmond Chapter Minimizes Layoff
Will the Governor & Legislature Give Us Gas Pains Again? They could make another grab for local gas taxes - Let's tell them what we think!
SF Electronic Instrumentation & Control Techs Formalize Promotional Opportunities
Last Chance to Support the SMCCLC's Union Food & Toy Drive!
APA's Represent the Fastest Growing Segment of Union Members
Save-The-Date! How to Reduce Your Stress - SF & East Bay Workshops
Save-The-Date! Delegate Assembly at Oakland Marriott, January 30
Local 21 Making News in Contra Costa: Members Rally to Stop Healthcare Cuts
On December 8, one hundred members from the Contra Costa chapter of Local 21 rallied at the Board of Supervisors and voiced their opposition to planned increases in healthcare premiums, being imposed on all Local 21-represented employees in the County on January 1, 2010.
All 100 members stood before the Board as John Allen, Contra Costa County Chapter President, and bargaining team members, Teresa Notarmaso and Ruth Atkin gave public comments. The message was passionate and firm: "Treat us like we are valued professionals and delay implementation of the benefit cuts for 90 days until we have a chance to negotiate."
While no one expected the Board to stop the cuts at that meeting, the Board was impressed with the power of our message and solidarity. The event was part of a larger effort by Local 21 members that included a letter writing campaign and other activities to fight for the respectful relationship with the County we merit.
Allen told the Board that their actions will set a direction of employee relations with Local 21 members over the next few years and they can chose a positive course or one that is more confrontational. He stated there is no excuse for implementing these cuts prior to providing county managers and professionals the very same opportunity to negotiate that was given to the Coalition of County Unions and CNA; it is wrong to treat us differently and the Board needs to correct its path now!
Listen to Local 21 making news on KCBS radio!
Attention all Contra Costa members and residents: December 15 is the Board's last meeting before the New Year. It is more important than ever to write to the Board Member in your district and tell them to allow time for real negotiations to take place and to stop premiums from increasing on January 1! Find out who your Supervisor is, and mail them a letter at: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, 651 Pine St., Martinez, CA 94553
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Richmond Chapter Minimizes Layoff
The City of Richmond is facing a $10 million dollar deficit out of a $140 million operating budget for FY 2009-2010, as well as raids by the State that would require the City of Richmond Redevelopment Agency to pay $10 million to the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund.
In September the Union received a layoff list impacting sixteen Local 21 positions. We negotiated with the City Manager to extend the effective date of layoffs from November 1 to December 15, 2009, to allow adequate time to work with the City and explore alternatives to and options for members pending layoffs. The City has since offered an Early Retirement Incentive to 38 classes in Local 21's bargaining unit through January 7, 2010, and extended transfer opportunities to minimize layoffs.
Through ongoing meetings with the City, the Union was successful in securing transfer opportunities for all Local 21-represented employees not eligible for the Early Retirement and without bumping rights. Six of these employees declined the transfers and received layoff notices effective December 15, 2009. They will receive three months salary continuation and six months continuation of medical and related insurance, as outlined in our MOU. All chapter officers and stewards played key roles in the meetings and were instrumental in securing these protections for our members.
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Will the Governor & Legislature Give Us Gas Pains Again? They could make another grab for local gas taxes - Let's tell them what we think!
Last year the Governor and Legislature tried to grab nearly $1 billion from local government to fill a massive state deficit. This year California is expected to run $21 billion in the red. When the Legislature returns to the Capitol in January, it is likely they'll make another attempt to take the money. Gas tax funds make up between 20% and 90% of public works budgets in most communities, and pay for road repairs, street lights, and other basic services. If the state takes the money, it will have a terrible impact on local government, costing more than 700 Bay Area public sector jobs and further slowing the economic recovery.
Write your Assembly Member today and tell them:
- Taking local gas tax funds will cost each legislator's district millions of dollars used to maintain jobs and services and speed the economic recovery. The funds pay for much-needed infrastructure repair and maintenance across our communities. In a disaster, public works are the first responders and are critical to rebuilding.
- Instead of taking the local gas tax, the state should close corporate tax loopholes to make up the money.
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SF Electronic Instrumentation & Control Techs Formalize Promotional Opportunities
Local 21 Electronic Instrumentation and Control Technicians play an integral role in San Francisco - they maintain and repair the electronic systems, instruments, and equipment used in the City's pumping stations. For several years four "Techs" have been assigned supervisory duties. However, in order to be paid for their supervisory duties, they had to apply annually for acting pay. This application process involves a number of additional steps which are necessary to receive any compensation for their extra responsibilities.
Recently, the City developed a new classification and job description, with four positions tentatively added to the new budget that will formalize these supervisory roles. In addition to monitoring developments to ensure the positions remain budgeted and the final job specifications and compensation are appropriate, Local 21 is also engaged in meetings with the City over the development of a new secondary supervisory position to oversee the four new positions.
We are well on our way to adding two new levels of promotional opportunities in the Electronic Instrumentation and Control Technician series!
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Last Chance to 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.
Monetary donations are also welcome, and 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, please call 650-341-7711.
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APA's Represent the Fastest Growing Segment of Union Members
A new report by the Center on Economic and Policy Research found that for the increasing number of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) who join unions, there are decided advantages.
About 12.5% of APA workers are in a union or represented by a union at their workplace, a rate double that of 20 years ago. The report found that unionization raises the pay of APA workers by about $2 per hour, with even more significant gains in low wage industries. APA union workers are 19% more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and 25% more likely to have an employer-provided pension plan, compared to their non-union counterparts.
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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 free classes for Local 21 members. The next session, led by Kitty Costello, M.A., MFT and Richard Epstein, PhD, MFT, will take place on:
- Monday, December 21 from Noon to 1 PM at the San Francisco Public Library at 100 Larkin St., Sycip Family Conference Room, 4th floor (no food allowed).
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Save-The-Date! Delegate Assembly at Oakland Marriott, January 30
The next Delegate Assembly will be Saturday, January 30, at the Downtown Oakland Marriott. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 am, and the Assembly starts at 9 am. Our last Assembly featured a special discussion and breakout session for members and delegates to address lessons learned from the last budget cycle, as well as opportunities and strategies for being more proactive and effective in the coming cycle.
During this Assembly, we will continue our discussion and focus on the nuts and bolts of budgetary analysis and action. Also, special guest speaker Dave Low, Assistant Director of Government Relations at the California School Employees Association, will speak to us about attacks on public employee retirement benefits, and statewide efforts to protect these benefits. All delegates and any members interested in attending should call the Union office at 415-864-2100. For a complete schedule of 2010 Delegate Assemblies, visit Local 21's Latest News webpage.
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L21 Express is the bi-weekly email publication of IFPTE Local 21. Local 21 represents more than 8,000 Bay Area professional public employees. Main Office Phone: 415.864.2100 South Bay Phone: 408.291.2200
