Watsonville, CA

The City of Watsonville Mid-Management Unit Employees, a group of 74 employees, recently voted to join UPEC 792. The results of the election were overwhelming in favor of joining UPEC. In fact, it was a nearly unanimous "yes" vote. 

The Mid-Management unit is the largest bargaining unit of employees working for the City of Watsonville, and had historically always been unrepresented. UPEC's reputation for high quality representation with other area City employees groups such as Monterey, Seaside, Capitola, Pacific Grove, and Carmel was a key factor in the employees voting by such an overwhelming majority to join the Union. Employees knew that UPEC delivered tangible results to their members. 

Immediately following the election results, the Union got straight to work with contract negotiations, and has already held multiple bargaining sessions with the City in an effort to negotiate the first MOU between UPEC and the City. A large majority of employees immediately signed up to be dues paying members of the Union and are enjoying the many benefits of union membership for the first time. 

The Watsonville Mid-Management unit joining UPEC was the successful culmination of a year's long effort to organize this employee group, which had never before been represented by a Union. Spearheaded by local UPEC Labor Representative Ryan Heron and a core committee of dedicated activists who kept this effort ongoing for multiple years, this represents a great success for both the Union Local, the City Employees, and the Local Labor Movement.