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. The UPEC Executive Board has been reviewing the proposals since March and is likely to support the proposals. Most of the proposed changes will happen in May 2018 with the Local wide election.

The proposals will reduce the size of the Executive Board back to the Constitutionally required number of 7 from the current 18. The Local currently has a waiver from the Constitution to expand the Board that expires in May 2018. The Executive Board primarily make decisions on the local budget, staffing and policy. “We have grown and expanded in the areas we represent and I believe we need to expand our leadership closer to the members rather than within the Executive Board”, said Darker.

The reduction of 11 positions on the Executive Board will shift resources and leadership to the local areas. The 11 Regional Leaders will work directly with their group of bargaining units forming a Regional Leadership Council.  UPEC Labor Relations Representatives will be assigned to each Region and provide advice and assistance to the Regional Leadership Councils.  

Regional Leaders will hold at least four (4) council meetings each year in their areas with the bargaining units assigned to their region. Regional Leaders will meet with the Executive Board quarterly and participate in the Local Quarterly membership meetings.

Another proposal expands the Local Political Action Committee from just the Executive Board members to include the eleven Regional Leaders. “This is an important move that will educate our members on the dynamics of political involvement in their areas”, said Darker.  Regional Leaders will be elected by the bargaining unit members in each of the eleven regions and will be compensated the same as Executive Board members.

“I believe we can expand participation both within the Local union and in the communities ,we serve, make members more aware of local politics and provide direct communication with our membership through this expanded leadership structure”, said Darker.  Business Manager Darker is asking the Board to appoint the Regional Leaders this summer to get the new structure off the ground and assess interest”, said Darker.

Discussion on these proposals begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the UPEC Headquarters Community Room.