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. UPEC Union Relations Representative and Organizer Christine Perry along with members of the prospective bargaining unit spoke in favor of creating the new unit that had been approved and recommended by Butte County Human Resources Director Brian Ring. A representative from the Butte County Employees Association (BCEA) spoke against these employees having their own bargaining unit.

"This is a real victory for county employees who have tried to create their own unit since 2005. Their current union, BCEA Local 1, denied and worked against their own members wishes", said Chris Darker, Business Manager for UPEC Local 792.

Employees identified in the new bargaining unit will have a secret ballot election in the next 4-6 weeks to officially elect their exclusive bargaining unit representative.