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.
Local 792 Business Manager Chris Darker presented the idea to the Executive Board in September as a joint venture that includes UPEC Staff, Executive Board members and Stewards. “We all need to work together on this effort to build strength and solidarity to defend against further reductions in pay and benefits”, said Darker.
Darker is referring to a proposed Pension Initiative authored by former San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed that will likely appear on the 2016 ballot for California voters.  The initiative, if passed, eliminates constitutional protections for vested pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current public employees, including those who working in K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals, and police protection, for future work performed.  Adds initiative/referendum powers to the Constitution, for determining public employee compensation and retirement benefits. Bars government employers from enrolling new employees in defined benefit plans, paying more than one-half cost of new employees’ retirement benefits, or enhancing retirement benefits unless first approved by voters.
“This is not reform but another political effort, backed by the Koch brothers and their paid for political cronies to put an end to Defined Benefit Pensions for everyone across the United States. Instead of doing away with this benefit the country should be expanding it!  This will have a devastating effect on current and future CalPERS Retirees”.
Executive Board members and Stewards will be equipped with the names and contact information of non-members and asking them to join. The cost for most employees is about an addition $ .75 cents per pay period. The goal is to enroll 600 new members in just six months.  
The campaign is about keeping every public employee informed and involved in protecting the benefits of those who have gone before them as well as their own.  “We as Union Members are the only defensive line and don’t think for a second that anyone else is going to stand in the way of this disastrous proposition!”, said Darker.