Bargaining Update
Office-Technical Unit 005
April 18, 2018
On April 18, 2018, the UPE negotiations team and the County met again for another round of negotiations. Today was the last day for submission of proposals from both parties. The County has submitted two additional proposals for a total of four (4) proposals, while UPE submitted ten (10) proposals for a total of thirty proposals. The County wanted proof of a need for monetary proposals, as if we make too much money.
This caused concern from the UPE negotiations team in regards to the County’s lack of interest in providing any sort of adequate wage increases. The UPE negotiations team brought up the fact of increases in cost of living in California and Sacramento. By the County only providing four proposals, it indicates they are not ready to bargain in a manner that helps their employees. On the other hand, UPE’s negotiations team submitted ten (10) monetary proposals that would benefit wages for our members.
The next scheduled negotiations date is for May 2, 2018. Now is the time for all 005 members to come together in unity to show the County we will stand united in our fight for each other and our families.
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Sutter Court Employees Vote to Join United Public Employees
On April 13, 2018 United Public Employees (UPE) welcomed the employees from Sutter County Superior Court to the UPE family. The employees in the General/Professional unit were seeking improved representation; members of the Sutter Court Unit initiated, organized, and led a campaign to decertify SYCEA/PEU, Local 1. As a part of the decertification process Sutter Court held an election on April 12, 2018 to allow workers to choose the union they wanted as their representative. The results of the election were overwhelming as UPE received 100% of the vote!
UPE Executive Director Ted Somera welcomed the new members saying “It is a privilege and an honor to represent the employees in the General/Professional unit. We look forward to working with Sutter Superior Court to better the livelihood of their employees and our new members! ”
The next step for the members of Sutter Courts will be contract negotiations. The workers have been working without a contract since December 1, 2017.
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!
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Announcing the United Public Employees Scholarship
The UPE Board of Directors is proud to announce the 2nd Annual United Public Employees Scholarship competition. Open to UPE members’ families, the program offers four $1500 scholarships to help with college expenses.
The scholarships are a first of their kind for UPE and are a part of the Union’s renewed efforts to give back to our members. As a wholly independent union, UPE is now able to reinvest all member dues back into its members whether in the form of representation, negotiations, or member appreciation programs such as the Scholarship.
Rick Reeve (005) a member of the Board of Directors said he was “proud UPE is offering these scholarships to deserving students.” He continued, “We recognize the personal and financial challenges our members and their families go through every day. I am excited that these scholarships are being made available in our first year as a member-run independent union. You have entrusted us to fight for your rights and we are investing in you or your family members, who one day, will continue the fight for employee rights and wages."
Applications must be postmarked by June 11, 2018 and winners will be notified in July. As a part of the application, those applying must complete a 500 word essay; include THREE letters of reference; and transcripts.
Winners will be announced in July 2018.
2018 UPE Scholarship Application
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008 Bargaining Negotiations Update
On April 11, 2018, your 008 Bargaining Team met with the County for the 5th session of this negotiation cycle. Tentative agreement was reached on 6 of UPE’s non-economic proposals: allowing use of accrued leaves by employees to attend guardianship hearings; new contract language requiring the department to respond to employee’s request for a 9/80 schedule within 10 working days and to provide the reason for any denial which shall not be “arbitrary or capricious”; new language establishing the same requirements for 4-10 schedule requests; 2 other non-economic changes to union reporting requirements which your team believes will strengthen the union; and a new requirement for consideration of employee preference on cash or CTO compensation for overtime work.
The County did not respond to UPEs economic proposals involving salaries. And, despite the County’s prior assurances that they would provide information on the DHA class study on April 11, 2018, they provided no new information, not even a time frame for when the Class Study is supposed to be ready.
In short, some progress was made on April 11, 2018, but your team remains frustrated by the County’s failure to provide meaningful information on critical issues which we consider pivotal to bargaining.
The next bargaining session is scheduled for April 25, 2018.
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!
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UPE Joins Forces with the Sacramento Central Labor Council
UPE is very excited to announce our partnership with the Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO (SCLC). Learn More
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Wednesday, April 4 - 005 Office Technical Unit meeting 6:00 pm @ UPE
Tuesday, April 10 - 008 Welfare Non-Supervisory Unit meeting 6:00 pm @ UPE
Tuesday, April 10 - Merced County Unit 3 Board Meeting 5:30 pm at 2222 M Street, Merced, CA 95340
Tuesday, April 10 - Court Professionals Unit meeting 12:00n @ FRC
Thursday, April 12 - Court Office Technical Unit Meeting 6:00 pm @ UPE
Tuesday, April 24 - UPE Board of Directors meeting 6:00 pm @ UPE
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