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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. PERB''s Regional Office dismissed the charge and warned the County the charge was without merit. Despite the warning, Trinity County chose to appeal the case to the full PERB Board, a matter which is normally reserved for the most serious cases. Attached is the PERB's Board's dismissal of the appeal and affirmation of the PERB Regional Office's initial decision that the County's charge was without merit. This case helps clarify how to run a sucessful strike!
UPEC filed a separate Unfair Practice Charge against the County pertaining to our second strike alleging that the County retaliated against employees by issuing an "all employee" letter from CAO Wendy Tyler threatening discipline against participating employees. The letter didn't use the word "discipline" but it did use the word "illegal" and it is not much of a leap to conclude that the County was considering discipline against employees who participating in the strike. We considered this a not too thinly veiled threat of discipline designed to "chill" and reduce our member's willingness to participate in the second strike.
Unlike the County's charge, our Union charge against the County has been received by PERB as a legitimate charge and a hearing is about to be granted!
Stay tuned for this interesting saga of how Trinity County employees are standing up to negotiate better contracts!
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