Fourth Annual UPE Scholarship Competition--DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 10th   The UPE Board of Directors is proud to announce the 4th 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 part of the Union’s endeavor to give back to our members.      As a part of the application, those applying must complete a 500 word essay, include THREE letters of reference and transcripts. Applications must be postmarked by July 10, 2020 and winners will be awarded on July 28, 2020.  Please click here for more information.

005 Reopening Plan Assessor’s Office On June 24, 2020, UPE met with the Assessor’s office regarding its’ “return to work plan” and it was refreshing to finally meet with a department that was prepared and understood the issues.  Most importantly, the department really seemed to have their employees (our members) health and well-being as a top priority.  They are going to be bringing back 30-35 of their 90 workers on a rotation basis and are willing to take another look at that number, possibly lower it if they are able to complete the necessary duties with less. The rest of the office will continue to work remotely as they have been since the start of the pandemic. Continue Reading

DHA Reopening Plan 6/18/20 UPE met with DHA for the first time on June 18, 2020 to discuss their plan to begin returning workers to the Bureaus.  Workers on paid administrative leave (PAL) are expected to return to Bureaus beginning June 22, 2020.  There are no plans to reopen any bureaus to the public at this time.  This includes no plans to begin face-to-face interviews.  Workers on PAL with underlying conditions or who are over 65 will need to submit a new doctor’s note to take them off work beginning June 22nd.  Workers who are not in the office or teleworking will have to use their own leave balances, emergency sick leave, or emergency FMLA in order to be compensated while off work.  The Department will allow Leave Without Pay (LWOP) in cases where workers do not have sufficient balances.  Workers should contact their supervisor if they cannot return to work on the 22nd. Workers will be allowed to use balances or LWOP while obtaining a doctor’s note.  Continue Reading

005 Reopening Plan DTECH/ 311 On 5/27/20, the Department of Personnel sent a return to work guideline in response to COVID. Each department must submit a plan and meet with respective labor organizations. As a result, UPE met virtually with DTech and 311 officials to discuss their specific reopening plans.       The Department has been open since the pandemic as they are all deemed essential workers. UPE asked if employees 65+ and or those with underlying medical conditions related to COVID-19 would receive Paid Administrative Leave (PAL). The Department responded, “No, that will be discontinued County wide.”  Instead, an employee who has a doctor’s note should provide that note to their supervisor, and soon thereafter, an ADA interactive process will be triggered. Continue Reading

COT & Court Professional Meet & Confer Update Voluntary Separation Incentive Program  United Public Employees met on June 23, 2020, with Court administration as the Court noticed us about the implementation of a court program called the Court Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP). The Court intends to roll out this program in the next few weeks. This is a voluntary program which is intended for current employees to leave the Court as a cost-saving measure. The purpose of implementing the VSIP is due to the current economic situation and proposed reductions to the Judicial Branch budget by the Governor and Legislature. The program offers a one-time lump sum payment of $25,000 for approved employees. The positions that are approved will remain vacant for up to two years. At this time, the Court will need to evaluate every application on an individual basis to determine the workload impact on a particular unit or function as well as the impact on the budget court-wide.   Continue Reading

DHA Reopening Plan  Follow Up Meet and Confer 6/19/20 UPE and DHA continued their discussions of the Department’s reopening plan on June 19, 2020.  UPE made it clear to the Department that we do not believe that workers should be placed at work locations less than six feet apart.  The Department affirmed that workers will not have to work in these conditions, but still could not provide floor plans demonstrating that cubicles are properly distanced.   After pressure from UPE, the Department did commit to supplying masks to any worker that requests one and supplies of masks are to be available now.  In addition, UPE pressed the Department to provide workers with greater assurance and information following reports of positive tests at worksites.  As of now, the Department will only commit to issuing bureau-wide communications announcing a positive test.   Continue Reading

005 Reopening Plan County Clerk/Recorders Office On 5/27/20, the Department of Personnel sent a return to work guideline in response to COVID-19. Each department must submit a plan and meet with each respective labor organization. As a result, UPE met virtually with County Clerk Recorders office officials to discuss their specific reopening plan.    The County Clerk Recorders office has approximately 58 employees downtown, five at one outstation location and four at another location.   UPE asked if any employee schedules would change. The department responded “No”. UPE pressed for telework opportunities in our bargaining unit. The County Clerk Recorder explained that they don’t have telework since the department is a customer-based office and the public must come in to show documentation. UPE said that the CDC guidelines encourage telework if any type of work can be done at home. The response was, “No, we looked into it and work cannot be done at home except for data entry.” Continue Reading

UPE Featured in the Sacramento News & Review!     Read how UPE steps in to advocate for members when they need them the most.   Click here to read more.

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