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.

Know Your Rights It is imperative that you know your employee rights in order to ensure equal treatment and fairness in the workplace. As a public employee, you have rights that are granted through your union contract, state and federal law, and workplace policies. UPE's staff and member-leaders have fought tirelessly throughout the years to expand and protect these rights. Some of these rights include proper representation during an investigatory meeting pertaining to a disciplinary matter. Your rights to Family Medical Leave Act, American Disabilities Act and sick/vacation leave request/usage. A change of policy that impacts your current working conditions prescribed under the MOU and or government code. All of this matters and we will educate you through this process. To that end, we are developing a series of short, easy-to-read summaries of many of your employment rights. More summaries will be added to this website over the coming months. Always feel free to ask your Steward and or your Business Representative about your employment rights and how they apply to your specific circumstances. In most cases, your employer is not required to inform you of your rights. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

DCFAS Telework Policy - 005/008 June 30, 2021      The Department’s responses during our meetings make it clear they are not prioritizing securing long-term telework for our members.  PE does not believe any workers other than those previously on telework will be allowed to continue telework after the July 12, 2021 return date. Each time UPE meets with the Department, they develop new reasons why assessing and approving telework will take more time.  This time the Department stated they did not plan to implement the new telework policy until September 1, 2021. Meaning, additional telework is not likely to be approved until the fall of 2021.            Following previous meetings with the Department, UPE believed the Department was in the process of assessing all their units (Social Worker and Clerical) to determine whether their duties are suitable to telework.  At our meeting on 6/30/21, the Department stated it needed to implement the policy fully before they could begin assessing.  UPE pointed out this was not true.  The policy deals with...   Continue reading...

Meet and Confer Update: DHA Return to Work July 16, 2021      UPE and DHA met again on July 16, 2021, regarding their plan to return all workers from telework and begin a long-term telework rotation. UPE began the meeting by clarifying that the issues related to returning people to the office and returning to normal business operations were separate matters and should be addressed independently. The Department agreed but then began insisting that the issues related to returning to work and normal operations had to be concluded at the meeting.  UPE made it very clear to the Department that they do not get to set the timetable of when our meetings conclude.       Our workers deserve to have all their questions answered before the Department begins changes. It is what is right and required under the law.        DHA is determining when operations return to normal. Neither the state nor the County is ordering them to reopen on August 23, 2021. The Department chose that date, just as they have chosen the date July 19, 2021, to require all workers to return to the office, other than those with cradle point or ADA accommodations. The Department has been told to return to normal operations, but the pace of that transition is entirely up to them.        UPE asked many questions at the meeting, but the Department was only able to give the following answers: Workers returning to the office will return to their regular workstations; these should be ready for them to use. If workers require any refreshers about policy and procedures or need retraining, they should... Continue reading...

Meet and Confer Update: 005 & 008 DHA – Return to Work July 13, 2021      UPE met with DHA on 7/7/21 regarding their reopening plans.  The Department reiterated their intent to return all teleworkers to the office except those issued Cradle Point Devices or those allowed to telework through the ADA process.  Everyone else on telework must return on July 18, 2021.  UPE challenged why the Department was continuing with this plan despite increasing cases, and the Department stated they were following directives from the Acting County Executive using guidance from the State and Public Health.       The Department identified 48 workers that will be... Continue reading...

DHA Return to Work Plan June 23, 2021      On June 22, 2021, UPE and DHA met and conferred over the Department’s return to work plan.  The Department intends to begin returning telework staff to the office on July 19, 2021, and return to full operations on August 23, 2021.  Workers who have been issued Cradle Point technology and/or have an approved ADA will be allowed to remain out on telework.  UPE requested a list of workers required to stop telework and a list of workers that will be allowed to continue telework.      In the long term, the Department plans to offer... Continue reading...

Meet & Confer Update  005 DCFAS Telework Policy June 15, 2021      UPE and DCFAS met on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, to discuss the Department’s Telework Policy.  The Department shared the purpose of the new telework policy is to align CPS and SAS practices under one Department policy and ensure compliance with the Countywide policy.  The previous telework policies were only applicable to Social Workers and Supervisors. The Department confirmed that the new policy would apply to all classifications within DCFAS.  Meaning, classifications previously prevented from teleworking (such as clerical classifications) may have an opportunity to telework.      UPE highlighted that almost all 005 workers were participating in some form of telework during the pandemic.  UPE questioned why this could not continue post-pandemic.  The Department did not rule out continued telework for 005 members.  However, they want to reevaluate every unit to ensure they can continue to deliver services as business operations return to pre-pandemic levels.       UPE made it clear that... Continue reading...

Juneteenth Holiday June 18, 2021     On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a law creating a Federal Juneteenth Holiday on June 19th.  It commemorates June 19, 1865, when a Union Army General announced the emancipation of slaves in Texas (almost two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation).  Since then, the date evolved into a general celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.        The law creating a Federal Holiday does not automatically mean it becomes a holiday for nonfederal government employees.  In order for this to occur, if you are UPE members in the Courts, the employers would need to recognize it as an official holiday. If you are a member working for the County, the County Board of Supervisors would need to pass resolutions making Juneteenth an official Holiday.       UPE contacted employers regarding their plans and to advocate for the creation of a Juneteenth Holiday. UPE will continue to update members on a possible Juneteenth Holiday.

2021 UPE Members of the Month!   UPE Recognizes & Appreciates Your Support! JANUARY Yashoda Reddy, Angela Ortega, Amber Guerro, Andrii Beresnev, Angela Soltero, Andy Lee, Phyllis Duarte-Lowe, Tamra Williams-Jordan, Dana Somera, Michele Brashear, Charles Severance, Maria Angel, Christina Zepeda FEBRUARY Cynthia Raley, Loretta Christian, Donna Seese, Angel Atilano, Angel Williams, Angela Horper, Michael Meraz, Nancy Wallace MARCH Lona Bradford, Catherine Hamilton, Angela Howard, Angelica Avalos, Angelique Reyes, Christina Tapia-Cortinas, Lissa Hernandez, Marie Sims, Tiffany Shende Bargas, Romellia Alcaraz, Donna Helms, Dori Aros APRIL Dao-Nhan Lien, Chiou Saelee, Jerita Wright, Ann Manisap, Ann Tran, Anna Nerdinskaya, Kent Sandoval, Jonathan Caporgno MAY Hunmberto Ruiz, David Chiang, Susan Bonta, Anna Yang, Anne Hue Luong, Angelique Johnson, Christina Whitten-Gouvea, Christina Arcuri, Alicia Allison-Thomas, Nancy Buendia, Sierra Collier, Maria Del Rosa Hicks, Ashland Aube JUNE Cassandra Miyasato, Monica Mitchell, Zapanta Nympha, Annie Saelee, Anthony Day, Anton Davydov, Sheila Carrollo, Rhonda Dunnewin