-
Negotiations in the Time of COVID As the pandemic lingers on, many of our bargaining units are going into negotiations for successor agreements. Sure, we've been having meetings over Zoom or other virtual meeting software, but these meetings are usually smaller in both scope and number of attendees.
Read More...VOTE NO ON PROP. 22!! The California Professional Firefighters, Teamsters and the State Building Trades urge you to vote No on Prop 22. Prop 22 would open state law to make it easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors. The Building Trades have fought the independent contractor classification for 40 years. https://youtu.be/Z6FkbigC8pw<https://youtu.be/Z6FkbigC8pw.
Read More...
Read More...Here is an update from LiUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan to our Union's Covid-19 Resource Page.
Read More...
Download:2020_April_9_Coronavirus_COVID_19_Resource_Page_Final_pd.pdf
Please take a few minutes to read FAQ's about the Families First Act by clicking on the following link: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions In particular, since "emergency responders" are exempted from the Act, here is an excerpt from the link that describes how broadly a public agency may define "emergency responder".
Read More...Please click on this attachment and read President O'Sullivans letter.
Read More...
Download:Letter from President O'Sullivan re 2020 April 6 Regs to Implement FFCRA Sick Leave Final.pdf
Use for family and friends! The concerns about COVID-19 are forcing many people to work remotely from home. This shift has probably affected many of your members and staff.
Read More...Attached is a copy of the Department of Labor's informational flier/poster that describes the new Families First Act. Feel free to print and post or pass around at your work sites! And if there is any question about these new benefits and how to access them don't hesitate to call your UPEC labor representative! Please be careful and stay safe.
Read More...
Download:DOL FFCRA information.pdf
Please take a couple of minutes and read these recommendations and guidelines on disinfecting all different types of work sites and in different situations. Pass it on! https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/disinfecting-building-facility.
Read More...Following is our best assessment at this time of the coronavirus pandemic with respect to your employment. This assessment will change and be updated as additional information becomes available. There are numerous implications including but not limited to: New federal law - including expansion of FMLA and sick leave benefits.
Read More...
Download:COVID 19 First Lecture re Benefits.pdf
Our LiUNA Health and Safety Fund has put together the attached guidelines to deal with the coronavirus, specific to construction jobs. Local 792 has many skilled trades professionals that would benefit from this information.
Read More...
Download:COVID-19 Response Plan Construction 3.20.20- recommendation.pdf
If you haven't had a chance to read it but have only heard about it in the news or social media, attached is a copy of Governor Newsom's Executive Order to "stay at home". You would think the effect of this order on California public employees would be clear, but its not, at least as of yet.
Read More...
Download:3-19-20 Governor Newsom Executive Order.pdf
Click the link below to be updated on a "stay at home order" just issued in Sacramento County that carries the force of law behind it. We expect to see more of these orders as concern about the social interaction spread of the coronavirus increases. Stay informed! Stay safe! https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241332696.
Read More...Please click on the links below for PERB articles written by one of our management attorney counterparts, Tim Yeung, for information about the new federal law "Families First" regarding the coronavirus. http://www.caperb.com/2020/03/16/families-first-coronavirus-response-act-key-points-for-public-agencies/ As of last night, this was signed into law: http://www.caperb.
Read More...Please take a few minutes and read the attached Federal OSHA Workplace Guide for preparing for, dealing with and responding to the coronavirus. We are receiving many calls and requests for assistance and representation. Please contact your unit representatives or myself if you need assistance in dealing with this significant threat to health and safety.
Read More...
Download:Coronavirus OSHA Guide.pdf
As a result of a merger Local 792 is now proud to represent approximately 250 employees in the classified service at Sierra College in Rocklin. In addition to the main campus in Rocklin, the College has satellite campuses in Truckee, Grass Valley and Roseville.
Read More...Please click on the following link and review the latest directive from Governor Newsome: https://www.gov.ca.
Read More...It took 5 years but UPEC can be very persistent when necessary! In the run-up to a 2015 strike by the Trinity County General Unit members the County CAO issued a statement that the strike was illegal. Naturally, not wanting to break the law and put their county employment at risk, this statement had the effect of reducing strike participation.
Read More...
Download:PERB Notice.pdf ,
Trinity County PERB Strike UPC Decision (1).pdf
It came as quite a shock to 57 Glenn County retirees to receive a letter from PERS informing them that their retirement benefits were being paid at an incorrect, inflated rate and that not only would their monthly pension check be reduced but that they would have to pay back the alleged overpayment. Reductions in monthly pension checks ranged up to hundreds of dollars per month.
Read More...Breaking News! - Following our last round of negotiations with Shasta County which included impasse, mediation, fact finding and a first-ever strike, Union members in our 900+ employee General Unit recently approved a new 3-Year contract. The settlement was a compromise mixture of improvements and concessions.
Read More...Union members in Pacific Grove recently settled with their City for a new 3-year contract that grants an initial 4.5% across the board salary increase for all classifications. Future increases in Years 2 and 3 will be subject to negotiation over the implementation of a salary survey of comparable agencies.
Read More...The topic and health issue of the day is of course, the coronavirus. There is plenty of info on the web, the media, social media, etc., about the health concerns, spread and symptoms of this new health concern and I am sure most of us are following this fast developing issue.
Read More...
Download:3-12-20 Governor Newsom Executive Order.pdf ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Quick Reference Guide.2.pdf
Our Union Member Friends, Brothers And Sisters Need Our Help! The U.S. Department of Labor is taking comments on a change in rules that would allow non-union contractors to implement their own training programs. This will have the ultimate effect of undermining the pay and benefits that our fellow union members have fought for decades to build.
Read More...Willows - Following long and difficult negotiations, we are proud to announce that UPEC members at the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District recently ratified a new 4 year contract.
Read More...UPEC Labor Representative/Business Agent Ryan Heron reports that the grievance he filed on behalf of 12 members regarding vacation restoration was recently resolved at the City Administator level of the grievance procedure.
Read More...UPEC proudly represents 3 City of Milpitas bargaining units: MEA, PROTECH and MIDCON. Two of the 3, PROTECH and MIDCON have been engaged in negotiations for a successor MOU. MEA has another year on its term. After a lot of effort by the respective teams and UPEC Representative Ryan Heron, settlement was reached and the Milpitas City Council approved the new agreements.
Read More...It was brought to UPEC's attention that Glenn County Superior Court promoted the only nonmember employee over much better qualified union members. Staff Representative Barbara Ramey conducted an investigation and confirmed that the two members who were passed over for the promotion were much better qualified that the selected employee.
Read More...UPEC was pleased to receive an offer from Colusa Court management to grant each employee an unscheduled $2,000 stipend in recognition of the hard work and dedication of the employees! This was a mid-term offer that had no strings attached and had no effect on the current MOU. Needless to say, the membership voted to accept the stipend.
Read More...Recently, the UPEC Executive Board approved several new insurance plans to make available to our members and their families through Benefit Consulting Services (BCS). BCS has a proud, several decades long tradition of providing benefit programs to Union members and their families. We are happy to be a sponsor to make available plans that you might be interested in.
Read More...Trinity County General Unit UPEC members recently voted to establish a $5.00 per month dues surcharge to accumulate funds to use for negotiations-related purposes such as a strike fund, fact finding costs, etc. Trinity GU members are following in the footsteps of the Shasta County GU members who established this type of fund over a decade ago.
Read More...Butte County - The devastation of the Camp Fire reached deep into our membership ranks with 39 members losing their residences to the devastation.
Read More...Sacramento - An important part of the most recent contract settlement for our IT Professional Unit in Sacramento County was to continue discussions on a couple of important topics that were not able to be resolved as part of the contract. Regarding contracting out bargaining unit work, Sacramento County has a long history of hiring contract employees for IT work.
Read More...Weaverville - UPEC successfully represented several employees who came to the Union with issues about working out of class in a higher paid classification. Following a discussion with County management that was initiated by UPEC Labor Representative Ron Copeland, these employees were recognized as deserving back pay for their particular assignments.
Read More...Susanville - Following a four-year fight, UPEC was successful in an appeal to the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) challenging an employee's release on probation. PERB ordered reinstatement and full back pay and benefits. The case involved an employee being terminated after reaching out for Union assistance and representation.
Read More...UPEC proudly represents five Trinity County bargaining units separate from and in addition to the three Trinity Superior Court bargaining units and the Trinity County PUD unit. UPEC represents Trinity County public employees!
General Unit
Probation Peace Officer Unit
Skilled Trades Unit
Management/Confidential Unit
Deputy Sheriff Association Unit
Trinity County, county seat Weaverville, is somewhat isolated geographically and therefore has very little pressure to pay employees fairly due to competition. We have heard it many times over the years: "if you don't like it here, leave and go work somewhere else." This means it is up to our UPEC membership with staff support to advocate for themselves. What the employees receive is pretty much 100% up to our posture at the bargaining table. We get what we earn. In the last several rounds of bargaining this has included 3 strikes in support of our positions as employees have gotten increasingly frustrated.
The big issues we currently face in Trinity County are the same type of issues we face with most employers:
Fair pay when compared to other agencies and also internally to other County jobs.
Affordable medical insurance
Fair Pay - We are addressing the fair pay issue with what has turned into a long-term strategy. We negotiated into the MOU a commitment that the County would pay an outside consultant firm to conduct a "Classification/Compensation Study" to update job classifications and compare Trinity County compensation to a list of "comparable agencies". Not wanting to leave the list of comparable agencies to chance as the list determines the outcome, we negotiated the specific list of comparable agencies into the MOU rather than leaving it up to the discretion of the consultant firm. Unfortunately, the consultant firm has taken forever and given us a flawed work product. Even flawed, however, the Study revealed what we already knew, that many of our jobs are woefully underpaid. 10%, 20% 30% even 40% underpaid when compared to the comparable agencies. To see this project through, the County and the units have committed to meet regularly, clean up the flawed study results, and negotiate an implementation schedule beginning in July 1, 2019. We WILL see this project through!
Affordable Medical Insurance - Trinity County pays the least toward medical coverage of any of the employers we work with. Only $700 per month toward a combination of medical, vision and dental. Clearly, this does not pay for any amount of dependent medical coverage. The County put a bid out to insurance companies to find a less expensive alternative to PERS Medical and as predicted no other insurance coampanies wanted to bid for Trinity County business. Once the County found out there were no other alternatives and we are going to have to stay with PERS Medical the County agreed to negotiate (finally!) on increasing what the County pays. We are in the middle of this effort and like the Classification/Compensation Study, we WILL see this project through!
Stay tuned for an update in 2019 where we expect to announce our success on these critical issues. Our motto is, "If not now, when?"
UPEC Staff and Officers, like all of us, have been concerned about our co-workers who lost their residences in the Carr Fire. The UPEC Board considered this disasterous event and voted to give each victim employed in a UPEC-represented bargaining unit an amount equal to 6 months of dues or fees.
Read More...Below is a list of resources for victims of the Carr Fire that include discounts, phone numbers, free services, etc. Thank you to Action News 12/24 for putting this information together.
Read More...Copy and paste in your browser search bar to receive information if you lost your home in the Carr fire. https://www.redding.
Read More...For all asking when they can get back in to their residences use this link to sign up for the for most current information www.tinyurl.
Read More...We are unfortunately in the middle of this emergency. If any member needs assistance call the office or your rep's cell phone and we will do what we can do to assist! Staff are also displaced and evacuated or hosting relatives and friends. We will make every effort to continue business like usual but of course it isn't usual.
Read More...Yesterday, June 28, 2018, the U.S.
Read More...UPEC is pleased to announce that UPEC members of the Sacramento County Information Technology & System Professionals Unit, consisting of almost 300 IT professionals, ratified a proposed new agreement that will now go to the County Board of Supervisors for approval on June 19th. Highlights of the new contract include: 3 year term.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - President Trump issued a series of executive orders Friday that could gut federal employee unions’ ability to negotiate with agency leaders and represent workers, as well as reduce the time it takes for an agency to fire people for poor performance or misconduct.
Read More...REDDING HQ - Business Manager & Secretary Treasurer Chris Darker issued a statement regarding Public Service Week 2018. Public Service Recognition Week has been celebrated the first week of May since 1985 to honor the women and who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government and members of our uniformed services in the United States.
Read More...
Download:Shasta County PSRW Resolution 2018.pdf
REDDING HQ - Shasta County Peace Officer Memorial Day is set for Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 12:00 noon.
Read More...
Download:2018 Peace officer Memorial News Release.pdf
REDDING HQ – UPEC Local 792 elections concluded today at UPEC Headquarters this afternoon. Eleven Board members were named and sworn in for the 2018-2021 term. Leading the Local as Business Manager & Secretary Treasurer is Steve Allen a 23 year staff member of Local 792. Mike Cottone was re-elected as President for a 5th Term on the Executive Board.
Read More...By Erich Wagner Federal workers put out copies of the Trump administration's FY2019 budget proposal. Government Printing Office photo The Trump administration announced Monday that it will seek a pay freeze for all civilian employees in 2019, confirming a plan long expected from the White House.
Read More...By Erich Wagner Federal workers put out copies of the Trump administration's FY2019 budget proposal. Government Printing Office photo The Trump administration announced Monday that it will seek a pay freeze for all civilian employees in 2019, confirming a plan long expected from the White House.
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...The Trump administration sided against public employee unions Wednesday evening in a Supreme Court case that could deal the labor movement a crippling financial blow. In a brief submitted in Janus v.
Read More...Washington DC - Federal agencies for the first time since 2015 are beginning to update their shutdown contingency plans, noting who would continue to work and who would get sent home in the event Congress fails to reach a budget deal.
Read More...REDDING, CA - UPEC Local 792 announced it has established a special fund for the family of Michelle McFadyen. Michelle and her husband Troy were shot in last weeks shooting incident in Rancho Tehama California. Michelle died of her injuries and Troy remains hospitalized from his injuries. Local 792 has now opened a separate bank account for the Michelle McFadyen family.
Read More...
Read More...REDDING, CALIFORNIA - In the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in the rural town of Rancho Tehama California, a lone gunman took the lives of 5 innocent people and injuring at least 10 more.
Read More...
Download:UPEC NEWS RELEASE Nov 2017.pdf
SACRAMENTO, CA - Some people believe that taxpayers fund the total cost of public pensions. This is untrue. The largest contribution comes from CalPERS investment dollars, with additional funding from employee and employer contributions. Workers currently contribute up to 15.25 percent of their paychecks to help fund their own pensions.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA. - PERB - In 2013, the Governor signed AB 218 which “banned the box” on employment applications asking for criminal conviction information. AB 218 added Labor Code section 432.
Read More...By Guest Author on October 19, 2017 Posted in Appeals, Constitutional Rights, First Amendment, Litigation, Public Sector This post was authored by Amit Katzir Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review Janus v. AFSCME, a case out of Illinois challenging the constitutionality of mandatory agency shop fees for public employees.
Read More...WASHINGTON DC - Federal employees and retirees can expect to contribute an average of 6.1 percent more toward their health care premiums next year, the Office of Personnel Management announced Wednesday. Enrollees in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program with coverage only for themselves will on average pay $5.57 more per bi-weekly pay period next year.
Read More...Column: Labor unions must reinvent themselves Marick F. Masters Published 12:03 a.m. ET Sept. 7, 2017 Organized labor deserves credit for building a strong middle class and promoting a pluralistic democracy. Yet unions are among the most vilified institutions.
Read More...By Valey News Newsroom on September 7, 2017 RIVERSIDE – Members of Service Employees International Union Local 721 walked off the job today in Riverside County to protest alleged unfair labor practices and air their grievances against county administrators following a breakdown in contract negotiations.
Read More...Sep 5 2017 - Local Ordinances - Virginia Young On August 22, the Santa Clara City Council adopted an amendment to the city’s minimum wage ordinance (MWO), changing the MWO’s annual rate increase schedule to reach $15/hour by 2019. Changes will affect employers beginning January 1, 2018. Santa Clara minimum wage to reach $15/Hour by January 1, 2019.
Read More...FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (202) 942-2246 or communications@liuna.org White House Action on DACA Imperils Hundreds of Thousands of Young Americans Congress Must Act to Protect Dreamers Washington, D.C.
Read More...
Read More...By William Barber II On 8/29/17 at 10:46 AM This Labor Day, tens of thousands of men and women are rising up in Chicago and cities from coast to coast to demand that everyone in America have the right to organize and join a union. I’m proud to stand with them, because their fight is central to the battle against poverty, racism, and inequality.
Read More...UPEC HQ – The UPEC Executive Board met for their monthly meeting August 19th and considered several candidates to fill the vacant Regional Leader positions. In the June General Membership Meeting, members approved moving forward with the Regional Leadership Council plan proposed by Business Manager Chris Darker.
Read More...CHICO, CA - UPEC Local 792 Business Manager CHris Darker announced today that the Chico City Council approved UPEC as the Recognized Employee Organization for the Chico Clerical, Technical & Professional Unit at last nights City Council Meeting. The Chico Unit adds 60 employees to the membership rolls.
Read More...The Public Employment Relations Board (“PERB”) reaffirmed that public employees have the right to the presence of a union representative, upon request, at interactive-process meetings to discuss possible reasonable accommodations in the workplace for a disability. In Sonoma County Superior Court, (2017) PERB Decision No.
Read More...By Jack Corrigan July 18, 2017 The House Republican budget blueprint introduced Tuesday would reduce retirement benefits for federal employees in an effort to save billions of dollars over the next decade, mirroring some of the same cuts presented in President Trump’s budget in May.
Read More...Legislature Passes Employee Orientation Bill (AB 119) – What Do Public Employers Need to Know? By Guest Author on July 5, 2017 Posted in Labor Relations, Legislation, Negotiations This post was authored by Ashley Bobo On Tuesday, June 27, 2017, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 119 into law.
Read More...Washington, D.C. (July 14, 2017) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today on the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to reject the Gosar Amendment to H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2018: The U.S.
Read More...REDDING HQ – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reported this week that all settlement checks were distributed in a case UPEC Local 792 filed nearly 9 years ago. UPEC filed several Unfair Labor Practice charges against Shasta Regional Medical Center in October 2008 on behalf of their members who were dismissed without being provided their severance pay.
Read More...REDDING HQ– At the June 24th General Membership meeting, members approved a proposal by Business Manager Chris Darker to expand the local leadership structure in the future. The changes will reduce the size of the Local Executive Board back to the constitutionally required number of 7 from the current 18 positions.
Read More...
Read More...REDDING – UPEC Local 792 members will be considering a recommendation by the Business Manager at thei Local-wide General Membership meeting this Saturday. Business Manager Chris Darker has four (4) proposals to present that will potentially involve more members in the Local leadership ranks.
Read More...June 21, 2017 Communications & Stakeholder Relations (916) 795-3991 Brad W. Pacheco, Deputy Executive Officer Wayne Davis, Chief, Office of Public Affairs Contact: Jeanie Esajian, Information Officer newsroom@calpers.ca.
Read More...Weaverville, CA – The Union that represents over 150 Trinity County rank and file employees announced today that it’s members in Trinity County will move forward with a planned strike next week.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:Shasta Mosquito Vector Control District Proclamation.pdf
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Download:Monterey Proclamation .pdf
Read More...
Download:Sac Proclamation .pdf
Read More...
Download:GLENN COUNTY SIGNED PSW PROCLAMATION.pdf
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...
Read More....
Read More...Members We have pancake breakfast tickets available here in the office at 1800 Park Marina Drive - $4.00 ea. or $5.00 at the time of event.
Read More...Honor the Fallen. Fight for the Living. An Update from General President Terry O’Sullivan Most of us can feel assured that after any given workday we’ll return safely to our homes and families. Yet for too many men and women, the workday will bring a serious injury and even death on the job.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:MOU REDLINE _ BCSTU 2017.pdf
Read More...SANTA ROSA, CA – Santa Rosa firefighters are suing the city in federal court, claiming they’ve been systematically cheated out of overtime for years. The city’s 118 unionized firefighters say the city is improperly calculating their overtime pay, and they now want to recoup their losses for the past three years, plus interest, costs and attorney’s fees.
Read More...Speaking at building trades’ conference, president calls himself “a builder,” reiterates promise for $1-trillion infrastructure program.
Read More...This post was authored by Alison R. Kalinski On March 2, 2017, the California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal in City of San Jose v. Superior Court (Smith), and held that communications by a city employee concerning public business on a personal account, such as email, phone or computer, may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (“PRA”).
Read More...
Read More...
Download:April Benefit & Labor Tip.pdf
RETIRED PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE: http://rpea.
Read More...TALLAHASSEE, Florida - Florida’s public-sector labor unions — which represent thousands of workers ranging from school teachers to public utility linemen — would have to convince their members to pay up or else risk being shut down, under a controversial plan by House Republicans that is now headed to the floor despite little chance at becoming law.
Read More...By Ashley Halsey III March 21 at 4:22 PM If the effort to privatize more than 30,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers is successful this year, it will be the result of issues like the paper strips. Each time an air traffic controller transfers responsibility for a plane to a colleague, the handoff is quite literal.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) Board of Administration approved new draft pensionable compensation regulations that move pension reform forward another step.
Read More...WASHINGTON DC - Under President Trump’s budget proposal, federal employees at many agencies may need to acquaint themselves with a lately dormant but still much-feared term: Reduction in Force.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - In March 2013, the Obama administration ordered a sequestration of $80.5 billion from federal agencies’ budgets. The cuts, as required in the 2011 Budget Control Act, caused immediate chaos across government, forcing agency leaders to implement emergency plans that in some cases sent employees home for several days without pay.
Read More...WEAVERVILLE, CA – Trinity Superior Court and UPEC Local 792 Court General, Professional and Supervisory Units settled yesterday on new contracts. UPEC Local 792 Labor Relations Manager Steve Allen negotiated both deals for the Trinity Superior Court employees.
Read More...The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments today in a case brought by Illinois state workers that challenges union payroll deductions from union non-members. The case was originally brought by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner against AFSCME in an effort to end so-called "fair share" fees.
Read More...SALEM — In a demonstration of the fraught political territory lawmakers enter when they scrutinize the state's public pension system, firefighters, nurses and teachers testified recently against two Oregon Senate bills aimed at reducing the costs of that system. The bills, both sponsored by Sen.
Read More...Redding, CA – The Shasta County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a 3 year 8 month contract with the Shasta County General Unit (SCGU) this morning ending nearly a year of negotiations for the rank and file employees. The contract grants a 3% raise March 5, 2017, 3% July 9, 2017, 2% April 29, 2018 and completely removes the monthly retiree admin fee of $52.
Read More...Capitola, CA - Lance Elliot has been a Chief Steward for Local 792's City of Capitola bargaining unit for decades. Lance has always been there for . Members like Lance are the lifesblood of UPEC Local 792. Over the last year and a half, Lance has been undergoing chemotheraphy to treat colon cancer.
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA. – UPEC Local 792 just received this information on a resolution that will reduce future benefits of current and future government employees. Business Manager Chris Darker said public employees need to be aware of this new Senate Constitutional Amendment filed February 15, 2017.
Read More...
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:MEMBER OROVILLE DAM UPDATE.pdf
REDDING HQ - ? UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker and the entire UPEC Staff have been watching the events unfold with the Oroville Dam situation in Oroville California. "We are concerned for the entire community. UPEC Local 792 will step up to assist our members in any way possible in the coming hours and days as issues develop", said Darker.
Read More...Redding, CA – The Union that represents over 1,000 Shasta County employees announced today it had made significant progress in negotiations over the past few days. The Union conducted a five-day strike last week over the Retiree Admin fee and safety issues.
Read More...Race and disability had the second and third most charges, respectively. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released detailed breakdowns of the 91,503 charges of workplace discrimination that the agency received in fiscal year 2016. Year after year, retaliation claims top the list and this year was no different.
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More...
Read More...Washington, D.C. (Feb. 1, 2017) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today regarding legislation introduced by Steve King (R-Iowa) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) which would enact a national so-called “right to work” law and separately Rep.
Read More...UPEC Business Manager Reacts to Shasta Board of Supervisors Meeting Today REDDING HQ – In an effort to get the attention of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors over 200 UPEC members filled and overfilled the Board of Supervisors Chamber this morning. Approximately eighteen 18 County employees stood up and spoke to the Board.
Read More....
Read More...OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF SHASTA COUNTY Strike Explained: Unfair Treatment and Safety the Cause Dear Concerned Citizens, You may have heard that Shasta County employees have voted to strike the week of January 30 through February 3, 2017. This is true. We would like our community to understand why we are taking this difficult and unprecedented step.
Read More...Davis-Bacon Law Supports American Adage of ‘A Fair Day’s Pay for a Fair Day’s Work’ Republicans and Democrats Alike Should Reject Proposal to Slash Construction Workers’ Wages Washington, D.C.
Read More...REDDING, CA - Shasta County employees are striking over several unresolved bargaining issues but one that really has rank n file employees worked up is the Retiree Admin Fee. The history of the Retiree Admin Fee as UPEC understands is that the County had a “self-funded” health plan in the early 1990’s and the plan was headed for failure.
Read More...REDDING HQ - The Five Counties Central Labor Council (5 CLC) responded today to a request by United Public Employees of California Local 792 to sanction the Shasta County General Unit Strike.
Read More...SHASTA COUNTY EMPLOYEES VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO STRIKE PRESS STATEMENT REDDING, CA 1200hrs (PST) Good Afternoon. Welcome and thank you for attending our press conference today. My name is Chris Darker and I am the Business Manager & Secretary-Treasurer for United Public Employees of California Local 792.
Read More...Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2017) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America, made the following statement on today’s meeting with President Donald Trump: Today along with Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions, and fellow leaders of the construction trades, I met with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and senior White House Officials in the Roosevelt Room and in the Oval Office, in a session that showed the President’s remarkable courtesy and his commitment to creating hundreds of thousands of working class jobs.
Read More...Washington, D.C. (January 24, 2017) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today regarding President Trump’s announcement on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines: For thousands of hard-working men and women who have been shut out of our economy for too long, it is beginning to feel like a new day. We applaud President Trump for turning the page for them, leaving the politicization of decisions over energy projects in the dustbin of the past.
Read More...PRESS RELEASE Redding, CA – The Union that represents over 1,000 Shasta County rank-in file employees announced today it will hold a Press Conference on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 12:00 noon at UPEC Headquarters 1800 Park Marina Drive Redding, California.
Read More...Redding, CA – The Union that represents over 1,000 Shasta County rank-in file employees announced today it will hold a Press Conference on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 12:00 noon at UPEC Headquarters 1800 Park Marina Drive Redding, California. This Conference will be held live on the UPEC Facebook page.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - Lawmakers have wasted no time introducing measures to overhaul the civil service and adjust the size of the federal workforce, putting forward several pieces of legislation in the first week of the 115th Congress to make wide-ranging reforms. Perhaps most notably, Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - Last month, the CalPERS Board of Administration took a decisive step to strengthen our fund by cutting what is known as the "discount rate" by a half percentage point over the next three years. The move generated a lot of attention. Some praised it. Some complained that we didn't make a deeper cut. Others were considerably harsher.
Read More...REDDING, CA - The City of Redding held the Recognition Election for the newly formed Redding Fire Management Unit (RFMU). Redding Fire Managers voted unanimously in favor of UPEC Local 792 to be their exclusive representative. UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker filed a petition for the new bargaining unit last month on behalf of management personnel.
Read More...PORTLAND, OR - The city of Portland, Oregon on Wednesday took a bold step towards addressing the national scourge of extreme pay inequality with the passage of a landmark tax penalty to be imposed on companies whose CEO makes more than 100 times the average worker's salary.
Read More...
Read More...Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law announced an agreement to offer a Federal Employee (FEDEM) grant equivalent to 10% tuition discount to Federal employees and their spouses admitted to the Master of Science in Law (MSL) or the Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs.
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:Blue Santa 2016.pdf
WASHINGTON DC - Lawmakers will work during the lame-duck session to pass another short-term spending measure to keep the government open through March 31, 2017. House and Senate leadership have decided not to move ahead with any fiscal 2017 appropriations bills this year, instead opting to push through another continuing resolution at the current rate of funding for agencies.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, California joined several other states in legalizing recreational use of marijuana by adults. Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, legalized the recreational use of marijuana for adults 21 years old and over.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA – The Board of Administration for the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) today declared the city of Loyalton in default of its obligations to CalPERS after failing to pay what it owes to fund its pension plan.
Read More...
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - On behalf of the LIUNA General Executive Board and the 500,000 men and women of LIUNA, I would like to use this Veterans Day and Remembrance Day to salute the men and women who serve, and have served, in the armed forces across the United States and Canada.
Read More...REDDING, CA - It may be election day all over the United States today but in the City of Redding it was "Recognition Day" for the City Fire Management personnel. The City of Redding today approved a new bargaining unit for the City Fire Management personnel. UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker filed a petition for the new bargaining unit last month on behalf of management personnel.
Read More...The combined debt held by U.S. public pension plans will top $1.7 trillion next year, according to a just-released report from Moody’s Investors Services. This “pension tsunami” has already forced towns like Stockton, California and Detroit, Michigan into bankruptcy.
Read More...
Read More...GRIEVANCE RESULTS – LASSEN COUNTY: A Unit member brought forward an issue with working out of classification. Working out of classification occurs when you are asked to do the work of a higher classification. In Lassen County that responsibility comes with a 5% salary increase for all time worked in the higher classification.
Read More...
Download:LASSEN COUNTY GRIEVANCE RESULTS 10.31.2016.pdf
Los Angeles, CA - Call it the tale of two pension crises.
Read More...WASHINGTON DC - Some federal employees whose personal information was exposed in the breach of data maintained by the Office of Personnel Management will have to re-enroll to continue receiving credit monitoring and identity protection services, the agency announced Monday.
Read More...ALTURAS, CA - The Modoc County Sheriff's office said a 47-year-old man shot and killed deputy Jack Hopkins on Wednesday during a confrontation. Jack Lee Breiner also exchanged fire with Modoc County Sheriff Mike Poindexter before being shot himself and arrested, Undersheriff William "Tex" Dowdy said.
Read More...ALTURAS, Calif. - A procession will be held in Modoc and Shasta Counties Thursday morning in honor of slain Modoc County Sheriff's Deputy Jack Hopkins. According to the Modoc County Sheriff's Office, the procession will leave Kerrs Mortuary in Alturas at 10 a.m. Thursday, then proceed up Main Street. It will continue on Highway 299 west to Redding.
Read More...Deputy Jack Hopkins ALTURAS, CA - Modoc County Deputy Sheriff Jack Hopkins was shot and killed on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 near Alturas. Sheriff's officials say Hopkins was fatally shot while responding to a civil disturbance call around 10:30 a.m. Hopkins was 31 years old and had worked for the Modoc County Sheriff's Office since 2015.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:FLY-ATT-GOUNION-Oct 2016.pdf
Read More...
Download:SCGU Media Release - 2016 Impasse.pdf
WASHINGTON D.C. - There are only a few months -- and just 16 legislative days -- left before the current session of Congress ends and all pending bills go back to the drawing board. But that is not stopping some lawmakers from starting one last push to cut federal employees’ rights, pay and benefits. Rep. Todd Rokita, R- Ind.
Read More...CHICAGO, IL - A Chicago federal judge on Friday tossed a lawsuit brought by Illinois state workers challenging union payroll deductions, reports the Cook County Record's Jonathan Bilyk. The case was originally brought by Gov. Bruce Rauner against government workers' unions in an effort to stop them from requiring so-called "fair share" fees from union non-members. U.S.
Read More...Federal employees, on average, will pay 6.2 percent more toward their health care premiums in 2017. Of course, the actual amount will differ from plan to plan. The most popular plan -- the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Standard Option -- will see a $5.81 per paycheck increase for self-only enrollees. Family enrollees in the plan will pay an extra $15.
Read More...City of Orland members voted to approve Tentative Agreements reached for the General Unit and the Mid-Management Unit that provides a 9% COLA over the next 24 months and 100% City-paid medical insurance for employees and dependents.
Read More...Additional Information:
Read More...LAS VEGAS, NV - Delegates to the 25th LIUNA Convention approved 10 Resolutions that will go into effect between now and the next five years. There are changes that affect the Union Constitution such as "Branding", Education for Union Leaders, Electronic Membership Accounting and more.
Read More...
Download:LIUNA Approved Resolutions.pdf
United Public Employees of California, Local 792 Serving Those Who Serve Our Communities 1800 Park Marina Drive, Redding, CA 96001 530-245-1890 ** Toll Free 800-241-1890 ** Fax 530-246-1651 www.upec792.com GENERAL EMPLOYEES OF MONTEREY (GEM) AT IMPASSE.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:Rally.JPG
Read More...Members now have convenient online access to annual Health Plan Statements SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) annual health Open Enrollment period for the 2017 calendar year is September 12 - October 7, 2016.
Read More...By Paul D. Knothe on September 1, 2016 Posted in Public Safety Issues STANISLAUS COUNTY, CA - In Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association v.
Read More...OROVILLE, CA - The Butte-Glenn Community College Police Officers have reached impasse in negotiating salary increases for the College Police Department employees including Police Officers, Sergeants and Community Service Officers.
Read More...
Download:8-30-16 Survey[1].pdf
President Obama issued an alternative pay plan Wednesday, giving civilian federal employees a 1.6 percent raise in 2017. The total figure includes a 1 percent base increase, and a 0.6 percent locality pay bump, matching the amount the president requested in his fiscal 2017 budget proposal. Obama issued a separate plan providing a 1.
Read More...REDDING HQ - The Representation Election for the Butte County General Unit and the Social Service Worker Unit was agreed upon today by all unions involved. United Publc Employees Local 792, Teamsters Local 137 and BCEA conferenced with Brian Ring of Butte HR and the State Mediation Service. The Mediation Service will conduct the secret ballot election.
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...San Francisco A grievance filed by UPEC at Golden Gate National Recreation Area has recently resulted in a member having his yearly evaluation changed from an overall rating of “Minimally Successful” to an overall rating of “Superior”.
Read More...Union: Rank-and-File Employees Deserve Bigger Bonuses Next Year, Too By Kellie Lunney August 18, 2016 A federal employee union says lifting the bonus cap for senior executives across government in fiscal 2017 without doing the same for other employees will lead to “significant morale issues” at agencies.
Read More...REDDING HQ - UPEC has added a Member Employment Resource tab to their website.
Read More...Butte County, CA - Short video of what are members are accomplishing in Butte County.
Read More...
Read More...
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - In an opinion issued yesterday, a California Court of Appeal ended a more than 4-year battle to reject an attempt by the former City Manager of Vallejo, Joseph Tanner, to spike his pension by more than $1 million.
Read More...Following several months of negotiations, Shasta County Profesional Unit members approved a new 3 year contract that increases salary 8% over the next 22 months. This agreement restores the last 2% of a 7% PERS concession agreed to members in a previous contract to help balance the county budget when times were much tighter and begins (finally.
Read More....
Read More...As the close of fiscal year 2015-2016 approached, Glenn Superior Court CEO Kevin Harrigan contacted the Union to see if our Union members at the Court would be interested in opening the MOU early to discuss an extension.
Read More...REDDING HQ - UPEC wants to take this opportunity to remind members and their families to GO VOTE TODAY, Tuesday, June 7, 2016 in the Primary election. Polls are open until 8:00 p.m.
Read More...Funding Risk Mitigation Policy Designed in Step with State Goals SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) was recognized for its pension sustainability efforts by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which presented CalPERS with an Award for Excellence in Government Finance.
Read More...REDDING HQ – UPEC Members gathered at UPEC Local 792 Headquarters last night to nominate their Candidates for the 2016 LiUNA Delegate Convention in September. UPEC President Mike Cottone opened the meeting with the flag salute and shortly thereafter turned the meeting over to LiUNA International Representative and Election Chairman Izaak Velez.
Read More...As part of a lengthy contract dispute in Trinity County during 2014 and 2015, Trinity County General Unit members participated in two strikes, the second of which lasted 6 work days and led to a settlement for a new contract. As the second strike began, Trinity County took an aggressive posture and alleged our strike was illegal.
Read More...
Download:PERB Dismissal of Trinity County Charge Against UPEC.pdf
Statement of US Labor Secretary Perez on Workers’ Memorial Day WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement on Workers’ Memorial Day: “Every day, millions of Americans leave their homes and report to jobs that provide for their families, strengthen our communities and grow our economy.
Read More....
Read More...Susanville POA members, affiliated with UPEC, ratified a new two year MOU after a frustrating, protracted negotiation, impasse and mediation effort. Terms of the new contract include reworking current Education and Certification Pay to double potential pay from 5% to 10% and addition of a "6th Step" to the regular step progression.
Read More...We are pleased to announce that UPEC, at the request of many Butte County employees, will be a choice on the upcoming ballot to consider which Union will be the best representative for the Butte County SSW Unit and the Butte County General Unit.
Read More...FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (202) 942-2246 or communications@liuna.org LIUNA Leaders from Across U.S. Lobby Congress to Protect Wages, Healthcare and Pensions; Invest in Energy, Water, and Transportation Infrastructure Washington, D.C.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - "Today, the Supreme Court left standing nearly four decades of precedent and sound law that has worked for publiemployers and working people alike. This marks a significant defeat for the wealthy special interests who want to hijack our economy, our democracy, and even the United States Supreme Court.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - We have witnessed bitter partisan fights for the better part of the last decade over how to best solve the problems of rising costs and reduced access to insurance in our nation’s healthcare system.
Read More...(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) Melanie Mason Contact Reporter Proponents of a pair of initiatives to curb retirement benefits for public employees said Monday they will not go forward with their ballot measures this year.
Read More...REASON MAGAZINE - San Diego residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition B, reforming the city's pension system for city employees, back in 2012. To be more specific, by a two-thirds vote, residents of San Diego voted to essentially close its pension program to new hires (except for police officers).
Read More...The Public Employment Relations Board dismissed Trinity County's charge against UPEC stemming from a strike conducted by the UPEC General Unit employees last March. The County alleged that the strike was illegal on the theory that the parties had re-entered negotiations following a previous strike in late 2014.
Read More...
Download:PERB Dismissal of Trinity County Charge Against UPEC.pdf
Members in the Lassen County Superior Courts General and Professional Units ratified successor MOUs. The new MOUs are for a term of 3 years. Employees in these units will receive an increase in medical insurance premium contributions of $150 per month and an annual salary increase of 3% each year for a total of a 9% salary increase.
Read More....
Read More...UPEC HEADQUARTERS – The Butte County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to increase their wages by approximately 5%, despite the request of Butte County employees and employee representatives to delay such action.
Read More...
Download:12-8-15 Media Release re Board salaries 003.pdf
REDDING HQ - Business Manager Chris Darker reached out to Teamsters Local 1932 in San Bernardino California today to send condolaences and offer support. The tragic events that targeted Social Services in San Bernardino yesterday left 14 dead, 17 wounded and countless people emotionally devistated.
Read More...REDDING HQ - UPEC Business Manager Chris Darker announced today that UPEC Local 792 Members can now contact UPEC Staff faster than ever before. When calling the union office for services, members will now recieve a prompt and menu to direct them to UPEC Staff. Members can self direct their call to a Labor Relations Representtive, UPEC Administration and more.
Read More...REDDING HQ - The United Public EMployees of California , LiUNA Local 792 announced that the UPEC792 App is now available. "The long awaited UPEC792 APP is finally available to our members" announced this morning by Chris Darker, Local 792 Business Manager.
Read More...
Read More...On this Veterans Day, we salute our Veterans and extend our gratitude for their service. They are our relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers. These individuals committed to a cause larger than their own and accepted the challenge to defend our Nation. Our Veterans put everything on the line to protect our freedom.
Read More...Following a strike in 2013 resulting in a 2% salary increase and an impasse in 2014 with no salary increase, the Shasta County Superior Court General Unit negotiated a one year MOU that provides an immediate 2.
Read More...The Marshal unit settled a two year contract for a 6% salary increase: 2% 9-15, 1% 3-16, 2% 9-16 and 1% 3-17. In addition, the Court’s medical contribution and opt out payment was increased from $646.35 to $740. The bargaining team was UPEC negotiator Steve Allen, Will Robles and Ray Hurlburt.
Read More...Colusa Superior Court General Unit members settled a “discussion” reopener one year before the MOU is due to expire, providing a 3% increase in salary and a significant increase in the Court’s contribution on medical insurance for 2016:
Read More...Washington D.C.
Read More...REDDING, CA - The Redding Peace Officers’ Association is proud to announce its partnership with Signsations and River Oaks Retirement Community to kick off of the “We Back the Blue - Redding” campaign. The goal of “We Back the Blue - Redding” is to give citizens a visible way to show their support for law enforcement.
Read More...REDDING HEADQUARTERS - If you are interested in Union History, there are a number of Union related movies available hidden away in various places on the internet. The latest "Brothers On The Line" is now available on ITunes, Netflix and Amazon. We have attached a link to the movie on our website under "Important Links".
Read More...REDDING HQ. – The UPEC Local 792 Executive Board approved a local wide Internal Organizing Campaign at their September meeting. The campaign is targeting those who are “Fee Payer’s”. The campaign labeled as the "Six-Hundred in Six Organizing Campaign" kicks off this month in an effort to raise member percentage from 80% to 95% in just six months.
Read More...CALPERS - The CalPERS Pension Buck illustrates the sources of income that fund public employee pensions. Pension fund income over the last 20 years (as of June 2015) shows that every dollar spent on public employee pensions comes from 65 cents of investment earnings, 22 cents from employers and 13 cents from employees.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:image3.JPG
OROVILLE, CA - Last night the Butte County Skilled Trades Unit voted to conduct a 2 day strike on Monday Oct 26 and Tuesday Oct 27 Chief Negotiator Steve Allen announced. The Union and the County have reached an impasse over their first contract.
Read More...BLS - CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – SEPTEMBER 2015 - The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) decreased 0.2 percent in September on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index was essentially unchanged before seasonal adjustment. The energy index fell 4.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:REED INITIATIVE.pdf
WASHINGTON D.C. - With a potential government funding lapse drawing close, some financial planning now will help federal employees be ready if the money stops Oct. 1. The good news for some is that the money won’t stop.
Read More...Washington, D.C.
Read More....
Read More...
Read More...
Download:FullSizeRender.jpg
REDDING HQ - Red Bluff Fire FIghters voted to join thousands of UPEC Local 792 members this week. following a presentation by Business Manager Chris Darker and Labor Relations Assistant Christine Perry.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - Republican Sen. Dean Heller will introduce legislation to repeal Obamacare's so-called Cadillac tax after Congress resumes, National Journal has learned, and the fight to get rid of the tax will begin in the Senate. For once, Republicans are not alone in calling for a repeal of a piece of the Affordable Care Act.
Read More...SAN FRANCISCO — Two recent and very significant legal victories for California workers send a strong message to employers nationwide: if you misclassify your employees, you will face the consequences.
Read More...Perhaps you’ve noticed there are fewer post offices around. In the past decade, the United States Postal Service has closed almost 200 facilities nationwide in an aggressive effort to do away with and eventually privatize an institution that is older than the country itself. Included in that number are post offices that used to be on Main Street near St.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) Board of Administration (Board) has designated as precedential its decision to reduce former City of Bell police chief Randy Adams' requested pension by more than half. The Board has also issued two other decisions cutting the pensions of former officials of the cities of Bell and Vernon.
Read More...Investment in Golden State rises 23.5 percent from last year to $25.7 billion SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) today released its annual CalPERS for California Report, detailing the broad ancillary benefits the System’s investments generated in California for the 2013-14 Fiscal Year.
Read More...
Read More...
Download:UPEC Scholarship Winners 2015.docx
WASHINGTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a final rule to increase protections for construction workers in confined spaces. Manholes, crawl spaces, tanks and other confined spaces are not intended for continuous occupancy. They are also difficult to exit in an emergency.
Read More....
Read More...
Download:Workers Memorial Day Terry O 2015.pdf
Read More...
Read More...On Friday, January 23rd, Labor Relations Representative Ryan Heron and UPEC Staff Attorney Ocean Mottley traveled to Sacramento for an informal settlement hearing in relation to the Unfair Labor Practice charge filed by UPEC for the County's refusal to bargain over the switch from Interagency Merit Systems (IMS) to an Approved Local Merit System county (ALMS).
Read More...Save 5% on orders over $25 At checkout enter coupon code: UNION OR save $10 on orders over $150 At checkout enter coupon code: 10OFF150 SHOP NOW Union Plus Textbook Discounts for Union Families: Save 5% on orders over $25. At checkout enter coupon code: UNION OR use coupon code: 10OFF150, for $10 off orders over $150.
Read More...January 31 Deadline to apply for Union Plus Scholarship The deadline to apply for 2015 Union Plus Scholarship is January 31; make sure your members don’t miss their chance to get financial help! Union Plus has distributed over $3.
Read More...1-7-2015 Susanville, According to an article in the Lassen County Times, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors took action at the Dec. 9 meeting to approve a reorganization of the County Planning Department. The article details efforts by County Officials to reshape the department.
Read More...Washington - After the elections held earlier this month, Republicans will be in control of 23 state governments. That is likely to bode very poorly for labor unions, especially those operating in the public sector, which have become a target of conservative state lawmakers in the past few years.
Read More...This post was authored by Alex Polishuk. On December 1, 2014, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Riverside County Sheriff’s Department v. Stiglitz, ruling that a hearing officer in an administrative appeal hearing has the authority to rule on a Pitchess motion for discovery of peace officer personnel records.
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - The legal dispute involving San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s proposed statewide ballot initiative is over, at least for now. We previously reported on the initiative, which sought to amend the California constitution to allow state and local governments to alter pension formulas for current employees.
Read More...WEAVERVILLE, CA - Just after dawn today, dozens of Trinity County workers and Local 792 Representatives appeared on the streets of Weaverville carrying stike signs. UPEC staff set up a drop off station for canned goods for the community.
Read More...
Download:IMG_9930.JPG
Weaverville, CA. After over a year of unfruitful negotiations with Trinity County, two UPEC 792 represented bargaining units are now preparing to go on strike after the Board of Supervisors failed to produce a fair contract offer. The strike is set for Tuesday, December 9th and Wednesday, December 10th.
Read More...REDDING, CA - The Redding City COuncil made their transition Tuesday night seating two (3) new Council members and a new Mayor. Francie Sullivan who was re-elected for a second term was voted in 5-0, as the new Mayor of Redding. She will serve as Mayor for one year. Brent Weaver and Kristen Schrader , first time candidates, were also sworn in as Councilmembers.
Read More...
Download:IMG_9805.JPG
In Nasrawi v. Buck Consultants LLC, a California Court of Appeals decided that retired public employees may seek relief against an actuarial firm, where the plaintiffs claim that the actuarial firm aided and abetted a pension fund’s alleged scheme to deliberately underfund the pension plan.
Read More...WASHINGTON D.C. - As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you and all of our LIUNA brothers and sisters a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends. While the union movement and our union has braved much in the past few years from the Great Recession to attacks on our basic rights to form a union, we can be thankful that through solidarity and strength, we have emerged stronger.
Read More...Washington, D.C. (November 21, 2014) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today on President Obama’s executive order to provide relief to immigrant families: LIUNA has long been a fierce advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.
Read More...PHOENIX, AZ - There has been plenty of talk about the conservative landslide on election night, and much scrambling to find the few spots of blue on what appears to be the overwhelmingly red electoral map. But there's an impressive victory for working people from these midterms that remains largely untold.
Read More...Congratulations to our Brothers and Sisters in LiUNA Local 1239 for their victory today in Seattle City Council. This victory will lift hundreds of people out of poverty, taking many of them off the rolls of welfare and food stamps, and will be good for the economy of the Greater Seattle area.
Read More...Redding – The Public Employee Union that represents over 3,000 public employees in 12 northern California Counties announced today it supports Ballot Measure F for the City of Redding. The United Public Employees of California Local 792 said it supports the ¼ cent sales tax on the November 4th ballot.
Read More...
Download:PRESS Release Measure F.pdf
SOURCE: AP/Evan Vucci President Barack Obama tours the Millennium Steel Service in Princeton, Indiana, Friday, October 3, 2014, before speaking about the economy as part of Manufacturing Day. By Michael Madowitz | October 6, 2014 This column was originally published on MarketWatch. Friday’s jobs report for September was a crowd pleaser.
Read More...SACRAMENTO - In recent years, a number of cities have become “charter cities,” in some cases because they believed it would “free” them from state laws requiring they pay prevailing wages on all public projects. Prevailing wages typically are what the prevalent pay is in a region.
Read More...Have you ever wondered what your bosses make? what top administrators and management in Shasta County, the City of Redding, and Shasta Superior Court take home every year? well an illuminating article published by the Redding Record-Searchlight gives many Shasta County area UPEC members a chance to do just that.
Read More...CalPERS News - The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) has $88 million more in its investment portfolio thanks to a payment received this week from the California Attorney General's Office as part of a global settlement reached by the US Department of Justice, FDIC, and various state attorney generals with Citigroup in July.
Read More...New Census Data Once Again Illustrate Importance of Unions to the Middle Class SOURCE: AP/M. Spencer Green Protesters gather in Oak Brook, Illinois, to demonstrate for higher wages and the right to unionize.
Read More...REDDING - The Postmaster General is pushing forward with a plan that will shut down the mail processing center in Redding by January 15, 2015. This is part of a larger plan to shut down other plants all over the nation. This action will slow down the service and will cost more because plan forces our mail to be processed further away.
Read More...
Download:Postal Petition.pdf
Read More...REDDING, CA - Residents of Shasta County will see their last satellite courthouse close this month, leaving just a main facility in Redding to serve litigants who live in the sprawling, hilly region.
Read More...
Read More...HEADQUARTERS - UPEC invites all public employees to a hosted reception for Redding City Council Candidates Sullivan, Weaver & Scheder on Thursday, September 4th beginning at 5:00 p.m. Candidate presentations will begin at 6:00 p.m. The reception is sponsored by UPEC Local 792, IBEW Local 1245, Redding IAFF 1934, Redding POA and RIEO.
Read More...On Friday, 22nd, election officials from the State met in the Butte County Human Resources Training Room in Oroville to tally up the votes for the Skilled Trades Unit Election. By the time the votes were finished being counted, a whopping 84% of ballots cast were in favor of joining UPEC 792. It was a landslide victory for all the workers that fought so hard to become part of UPEC 792.
Read More...On August 15, 2014 the U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) posted a notice at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, hereafter referred to as the agency. The OSHA notice identified 16 Serious Violations of asbestos in a Capehart housing quarter at Fort Barker.
Read More...
Download:GGNRA - OSHA Decision .pdf
CHICAGO, IL - The LiUNA Public Employee Department awarded a well deserved member and former Business Manager the Joe Virgillio Award in Chicago this morning. Donald Iannazzi was the honored recipient of this award. Don, recently retired from Local 1033 in Rhode Island, was present with his wife and several members and staff of Local 1033.
Read More...
Download:Dons Award.JPG
Standing before the “Getting Schooled in Infrastructure” bus in Louisville, Ky., Friday, U.S. Congressman John Yarmuth declared: “Congress is fiddling while our nation collapses.” It was week five of the bus being on the road, traveling nearly 5,000 miles through more than 50 Congressional districts. It’s message: tell Congress to get serious about our nation’s roads, bridges and jobs and pass a long-term, full-investment Highway Bill. Earlier in the week, the bus was joined by the mayor of Nashville who urged Congress to fulfill its responsibilities and in Atlanta by the state Senate Minority Leader who also urged Congress to adopt any of the several viable, responsible proposals available to them to make our roads and bridges safe and protect jobs.
While Congress appears on course to pass a temporary patch to maintain resources for roads and bridges for 10 months – rather than fixing the crisis – a bi-partisan core in Congress, as well as LIUNA and other transportation advocates, have vowed to continue to work for a real Highway Bill that will provide the resources and stability the nation needs.
The “getting schooled” bus continues through Virginia next week, on to Times Square in New York City and then to Washington, D.C.
Send a message to Congress now at www.FixOurBridges.org and let them know America deserves safe roads and bridges.
Key facts:- One in four bridges in the U.S. is structurally deficient or functionably obsolete.
- Poor road conditions, such as potholes are now a contributing factor in a third of traffic fatalities. That’s about 10,000 lost lives every year.
BREAKING NEWS! OROVILLE, CA - Representatives from UPEC Local 792, BCEA, Butte County and State Mediation Service conferenced on the details for a secret ballot election for the newly created Butte County Skilled Trades Bargaining Unit. The secret ballot election will be conducted by U.S. Mail with ballots being mailed from the State Mediation Service on August 5, 2014.
Read More...Sunglasses offer your eyes protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. Long term exposure UV rays can contribute to cataract formation and damage the cornea, lens and other parts vital to vision. Look for sunglasses that: • Offer maximum UV protection – Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light.
Read More...REDDING HQ – Business Manager Chris Darker announced today that UPEC Local 792 has increased their staffing by one additional Labor Relations Representative. Sara Connors has been hired as a Labor Relations Representative and will be working throughout the local from the Redding Office. Sara has represented both public and private sector members over the years most recently in Oregon.
Read More...REDDING HQ - Long time UPEC Executive Board member Larry Olsen announced he will be retiring his position in Glenn County and his position on the Executive Board later this month. Larry Olsen is an electrician for the County Glenn, California. He is retiring June 30, 2014. He is also a military veteran and served in Vietnam.
Read More...
Download:Larry Olsen.JPG
REDDING, CA - The June primary election is over and the results are in. UPEC had two members of the Glenn County Mid-Managers running for office in Glenn County and both won. Glenn County Undersheriff Richard Warren ran for the office of Sheriff and won over Kevin Donnelley. Todays results show Warren received 66% of the votes.
Read More...
Read More...WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a $5.25 million settlement with GreatBanc Trust Co. resolving department allegations that the Lisle, Illinois-based company violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. In 2006, GreatBanc, as trustee to the Sierra Aluminum Co.
Read More...Remember to VOTE today, June 3, 2014. Your employer must give you the opportunity to go to the polls.
Read More...OROVILLE - The Butte County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a new bargaining unit today at their Board of Supervisors meeting. UPEC Local 792 represented 120 county employees in their request to have a separate bargaining unit made up of those in the skilled trades and similar positions.
Read More...OROVILLE, CA - The Butte County Employees Association (BCEA) Local 1 is appealing the decision of Butte County Personnel Director Brian Ring to the County Board of Supervisors. Butte County employees who have been trying to create a Skilled Trades Unit for nearly a decade found themselves facing another road block today in their quest for a separate unit.
Read More...RIVERSIDE, CA - PERB issued a decision against the County of Riverside finding the County unlawfully and unilaterally ceased giving step (wage) increases to over 200 County employees when the County prematurely declared impasse in contract negotiations and imposed its last, best and final offer (Decision No. 2360?M, March 25, 2014).
Read More...SACRAMENTO, CA - UPEC court employees have figured out that local problems can't be resolved locally. Business Manager Chris Darker formed a Rural Court Coalition earlier this year to address budget problems at the state level.
Read More...The Colusa Courts General Unit membership ratified a new MOU following multiple months of stalled negotiations that were due to the Court's insistence that employees pay 7% more of the PERS Member Contribution.
Read More...REDDING HQ - The UPEC Executive Board voted to endorse Undersheriff Rich Warren for his bid for the office of Glenn County Sheriff. Glenn County Voters will go to the poles June 3 and decide on a new Sheriff. There are only two candidates so the June vote sets the future of the Sheriffs office.
Read More...WILLOWS - Members of the Glenn County Deputy Sheriffs Association voted to endorse UnderSheriff Richard Warren to the Office of Sheriif in June. Current Sheriff Larry Jones in retiring as Sheriff. Former Sheriff Kevin Donnelley filed to be a candidate again in the 2014 race. Donnelley served as Sheriff from 1995-1999 and was ousted by Bob Shadley. UPEC endorsed Shadley in 1998.
Read More...REDDING - The Redding City Council voted 3-2 in favor of a 15 month deal for the Redding Technical Unit (RTU) tonight. This is the first Memoradum of Understanding for the newly formed bargaining unit. The Redding Technical unit will recieve 4% in salary increases from now through June 2014. The contract expires in 2015.
Read More...REDDING HQ - United Public Employees of California Local 792 Executive Board approved support for a major fundraiser over the weekend. The Good News Rescue Mission received support for the Night to the Rescue, Brining hope to the Streets evens May 3 - 4, 2014 held in Redding at the Simpson University Campus.
Read More....
Read More...REDDING HQ. UPEC Local 792 Staff received two awards at the 2014 Pacific Southwest Regional Conference. The Union Region that covers California, New Mexico, Arizona and Hawaii met in Long Beach California March 23-25, 2014.
Read More...PHOENIX, AZ. - UPEC Local 792 Representative Christine Perry attended a one week organizing class in Phoenix, AZ, March 16 thru 21, focusing on non-construction organizers to help leaders take a more active role in organizing and training of organizers for their Local Union.
Read More...Organizing Academy in Phoenix this March helps Liuna Local 777 achieve new member recruitment. A one week class was held in Phoenix March 16 thru 21 focused on non-construction organizers to help leaders take a more active role in organizing and training of organizers for their Local Union.
Read More...REDDING - The Shasta Court Unit meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th has been moved up to 5:30 pm. The meeting was originally scheduled at 6:00 pm.
Read More...Contracting out public employee services is a topic we have to deal with far too often and the small, historic, tourist destination town of Pacific Grove is no exception in efforts to cut employees and use outside employers. Side note, Pacific Grove is also at the forefront of pension reform efforts.
Read More...
Download:12-31-13 Demand Letter re Contracting Out.pdf
HEADQUARTERS - The UPEC Local 792 Executive Board made some changes to the Board positions at its regular quarterly meeting on Saturday, February 22nd. Long time Lassen County Board member and Vice President Keith Coker retired from County service in December last year. The Board elected Shasta County Board member Steve Suske to Vice President.
Read More...WILLOWS - Glenn Court Management and the UPEC Glenn Court Unit declared impasse in negotiations yesterday said Business Manager Chris Darker. The two sides have been negotiating since September 2013 for a successor MOU. Court Management wants union to take a pay cut and start paying their CalPERS contribution.
Read More...HEADQUARTERS - Business Manager Chris Darker announced today that UPEC will conduct a class for Federal Sector employees on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 9:00am - 4:30pm. The topic of the training is Union Employee Rights in the Federal Sector and Steward Training. There is no charge for members, stewards and union Business Agents/Representatives.
Read More...REDDING - Members can now send emails and access the telephone system at UPEC Headquarters. Emails sent since Thursday, February 13, 2014 will need to be resent as those did not make it to the UPEC server. Representatives have noticed that there are large gaps in time where emails came in.
Read More...REDDING - UPEC communications continue to be interupted for a third day as Charter Communications works on the problem. UPEC Email and Telephone service is provided by Charter Communications with the exception of Fax and Cell phone communications.
Read More...REDDING - Both email and landline communications through the UPEC Headquarters went down today around 10:00a.m. Labor Representatives can be reached through their cell phones listed on the website. Business Manager Chris Darker said, Charter communications announced the outage this morning that covered an area from Red Bluff to Shasta Lake City.
Read More....
Read More...
Read More...OROVILLE, CA - United Public Employees of California Local 792 received official communication from Butte County Human Resources voiding the Biutte County General Unit & Social Service Unit Decertification Election based on Petitions filed by Teamsters Local 137 in January 2016. This means that all previous ballots will be destroyed.
Read More...