Contra Costa County Chapter

Chapter Officers
John Allen, President
Francie Wise, Vice President
Sue Guest, Secretary
Cindy Collins, Treasurer
Patricia Corum, Sgt-at-Arms/Parliamentarian & Delegate
Chuck Jeffries, Chief Shop Steward
Rex Fujikawa, Representative At-Large
Teresa Notarmaso, Sr Unit Rep (Non-Supervisory)
Sam Rosales, Representative At-Large

Contra Costa employees concerned about furloughs
KGO Channel7 News
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (KGO) -- A contingent of Contra Costa County program managers and supervisors appeared at Tuesday morning's supervisors meeting to voice their concerns about a plan for them take 12 furlough days in nine months or less. The employees say the furlough days amount to a 6 percent pay cut. The employees are all members of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21, which has about 800 members in Contra Costa County. "The county's being truly unfair," said Sue Guest, a 23-year county employee who is the Public Health Nurse Program Manager for Contra Costa Health Services. "They're wanting us to take 96 hours of furlough in this compressed time. We think it's seems really inequitable and unfair to be doing this to the people who actually run the county." Contra Costa Supervisor Mary Piepho would not get into specifics because of ongoing negotiations with Local 21. "Everybody is absolutely having to make sacrifices," said Piepho. "One of their concerns is about a tightened time frame, needing to do a wage furlough or wage decrease. Over 5,000 of our employees have already done that over a two-year period."
Contra Costa employees concerned about furloughs,
KGO Channel7 News

CC Employees Complain About FurloughDays
Keith Mizuguchi, KCBS News, 8/10/2010
MARTINEZ, Calif. (KCBS); Furlough days have riled up hundreds of county managers and supervisors in Contra Costa, who claim they are being forced to take too many days off. County manager Sue Guest of Local 21 was the first to speak at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting in Martinez. You want us to take 12 days of furlough. Thats over a 6 percent wage cut, she said. That is unfair. The furlough days would have to be taken before June 30, 2011. Local 21 began bargaining last July, but theres still no contract. Dr. Juan Reardon with county health services said the union is willing to accept the furlough days, but just not in such a compressed amount of time. Were barely covering the high cost of Bay Area living for ourselves and our families, he said. The union, which represents about 800 management and supervisory personnel, is asking that the furlough days be spared over a two year period like it is for other unions. John Gioia, the Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, had the last word on the matter. We want to bring our negotiations with Local 21 to conclusion as soon as possible, said Gioia. As Gioia spoke, many union members turned their backs and walked out of the Board chamber. To listen to the original radio braodcast go here:
CC Employees Complain About FurloughDays,
Keith Mizuguchi, KCBS News, 8/10/2010

July 28, 2010 -- Letter from Local 21's Field Services Director,
Bob Britton, to Supervisor John Gioia
"The County's demand that Local 21 represented employees take a pay cut greater than 6% for the months remaining until June 30, 2011 is unacceptable to our membership and an unfair and unequal burden compared to what other County employees have suffered. Last week for the first time negotiators for the County told us that even if the we agreed to the same number of ATA furlough days as the Coalition unions, they must be taken during the less than one year remaining to June 30, 2011. This would mean a more than 6% pay cut compared to a 2.3% pay cut for unrepresented and Coalition represented employees..."

July 28, 2010 Letter from Local 21's Field Services Director,
Bob Britton, to Supervisor John Gioia

CHAPTER MEETING Wednesday, August 25 5:30p.m. - 7:00p.m. 1333 Pine St Martinez Food provided August CHAPTER MEETING Download PDF

Your bargaining team has created this proposal tracker to give members a sense of what proposals and Tentative Agreement's(TA) have been made with the County at the bargaining table to date.
Proposal Tracker updated 8.23.10

Contra Costa County: Stop the 6% Pay Cut! Contra Costa County members will rally at the Board of Supervisors meeting demanding the Board stop the proposed action to force us to take a 6% pay cut. We are willing to share the pain, but 12 furlough days in less than 9 months is not fair. Join us in telling the Board they cannot let this happen!! Tuesday, August 10, 9:00 am @ Board Chambers, 651 Pine Martinez

Local 21 Button Day!

Wear your Local 21 button
Tuesday, July 13

Thank You from Mark DeSaulnier

Letter from your chapter president Letter from your chapter president, John Allen regarding the replacement of Tier 2 with Tier 3 benefits

Grievance An allegation by an employee, a group of employees or the Union that the employer has violated, misapplied or misinterpreted a term or condition of employment provided in the MOU, the law, past practice or employer rules, policies or procedures. Grievance flier... Download PDF

State Issues Unfair Labor Practice Charge
Against Contra Costa County
Surprisingly, and in what is a very good sign, the California Public Employment Relations Board, PERB, acted fairly quickly on our Unfair Practice Charge that we filed against Contra Costa County at the end of last year.

Click here to read more and see the response from PERB

We have received word from PERB that their General Counsel has issued a Complaint on our charge that the County illegally discriminated against our unit members when, one month after we were granted union recognition, they gave a better healthcare package to the remaining unrepresented employees, but claimed that they could not and would not do likewise for those that chose to unionize with Local 21. To do so is illegal discrimination under the law because it rewards employees who did not unionize while punishing those who did. We contend that even if their post-dated action to reduce healthcare benefits is legal, they must unconditionally offer us the same healthcare benefits they gave to unrepresented employees just after we were granted collective bargaining rights.

This does not mean that we have prevailed on our charge, only that PERB found a prime facie case. This means that the basis for our charge is legitimate under the law, i.e. they understand and recognize the basis for our charge, and that if we can prove it, the County has committed an unfair labor practice. An informal settlement conference has already been scheduled for March 16.

Click here to download the response from PERB.

Professional Rights Training I A Practical Guide to Successful Worksite Representation An introductory training for new and functioning Stewards who have never received steward training or are seeking a refresher course. Tuesday March 16 5:30-8:30 1333 Pine Street Conference Room "H" (dinner will be provided) Professional Rights Training I, Download PDF

IFPTE Local 21 has two seats on the Contra Costa County Central Labor Council that need to be filled. As Local 21's representative on the Central Labor Council(CLC) you would be required to attend the monthly CLC meetings. If you are interested being one of Local 21's CLC representatives please contact Alex Tonisson at: atonisson@ifpte21.org or (415) 864-2100 X137

...more information Local 21's 2 seats on the CLC

Join the Contract Action Team(CAT)!
The Contract Action Team is the life force of our Contra Costa County Contract Campaign. Members of the CAT are the vital link between the Local 21 Negotiating Team and the Membership. Members of the CAT are the first to get the most up to date news about negotiations. As a member of the Contract Action Team (CAT) you would share information about bargaining withyour coworkers and get their reactions and feedback so the Negotiating Team knows what the membership thinks about negotiations.

The next CAT meeting is:
Wednesday Feb 3rd
5:30pm 1333 Pine St.

Dinner will be provided
Please RSVP to:
Alex Tonisson L21 Representative/Organizer
Phone: (415) 864-2100 x 137
Email: atonisson@ifpte21.org

Download PDF

STOP THE HEALTHCARE CUTS! Please join us for 2 special meetings at 651 Pine St in Martinez Dec 1, 9:30 a.m. Dec 8, 9:30 a.m.

Health Insurance Increases -spread sheet

Chapter Election Results Ballots for chapter officer and negotiations committee were counted on Friday, October 16 by Election Committee members Susan Cohen, Pat Corum, Tom Dalziel, Al Flanagan, John Hurlbut, and Susan Nairn. Download election results Download Negotiations Team Tally Results

click here to read more...
On December 12, 2008 Local 21 filed a majority petition to represent over 950 unrepresented County employees. We were granted informal recognition at the January 13, 2009 Board of Supervisors meeting. Although our membership and support have been steadily increasing, the County has failed to process our petition for formal recognition in a timely fashion. As we continue to meet with County officials in the hope that they will expedite this process we are also taking steps to become more active in the County and with our members. If you would like to get involved, learn more or just have questions you can email us at CCC@ifpte21.org

Bylaws election results (download ballot tally form)

Contra Costa County Chapter Bylaws (download)

Our Position on Furloughs This letter to County HR Director Ted Cwiek was sent to assert our position on the matter of furloughs. Because these furlough days were not bargained with Local 21, those represented by the Union will not be financially impacted, although others in the County will. This was further clarified at the negotiation session on Monday, August 24th, in which the parties agreed that Local 21 employees should report to work and would not see an change in their paychecks.

Why we joined Local 21 "It was important for me to get involved in the union fi ght for representation. For far too long, managers, supervisors, and other professionals have not had a voice in determining our future. Local 21 has given us the opportunity...

Update 8-14-09

Formal recognition announcement

We are happy to announce that after over a year of organizing, Local 21 was formally recognized as the representative union for over 800 mid-managers and professionals by the County of Contra Costa at the June 23rd Board of Supervisors meeting. Over fifty members and supporters attended this meeting, wearing navy blue in a show of solidarity. The following evening members came out to celebrate at our first meeting as a recognized union. The next steps in Contra Costa will be voting on Chapter By-Laws and implementation of the bargaining survey, both of which were constructed by members of the Organizing Committee. If you would like to get more involved please contact Kyra Byrne (kbyrne@ifpte21.org) or Angela Long (along@ifpte21.org).

Bob Muscat's Formal recognition announcement

May 8th, Local 21 and County reach agreement on unit determination, formal recognition is next. view 2 units: Supervisory Non supervisory

Member Activity

Board of Supervisor Updates

BOS 11.10.2009 Agenda BOS 11.3.2009 Agenda BOS 10.27.2009 Agenda BOS 10.20.2009 Agenda BOS 10.13.2009 Agenda BOS 10.6.2009 Agenda BOS 9.22.2009 Agenda BOS 9.15.2009 Agenda BOS 8.25.2009 Agenda BOS 8.11.2009 Agenda BOS 8.4.2009 Agenda BOS 7.21.2009 Agenda BOS 7.7.2009 Agenda BOS 5.4.2009 Agenda BOS 4.28.2009 Agenda (Special)
BOS 4.28.2009 Agenda BOS 4.21.2009 Agenda BOS 4.7.2009 Abolishing Positions
BOS 4.7.2009 Positions to be Abolished 3.17.2009 BOS D-1 FY 2009-10 Recomended Budget Memo
3.17.2009 BOS D-1 FY 2009-10 Recomended Budget
3.17.2009 BOS D-2 Beilenson Notice Memo
3.17.2009 BOS D-2 Beilenson Notice
Feb 24 FY 2008-09 MID-YEAR BUDGET STATUS REPORT AND DEPARTMENT HEAD SUMMIT REPORT
IFPTE Senior Representative Bob Britton spoke during the public comment portion of this meeting. BOS D-2 March 3 County Budget and Core Service Policy

Flier Archive

July CHAPTER MEETING Download PDF June CHAPTER MEETING Download PDF May CHAPTER MEETING Download PDF April CHAPTER MEETING Download PDF CHAPTER MEETING, March 2010 CHAPTER MEETING, February 2010 LOCAL 21 MEMBER MEETING, January 27, 2010 Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Meeting Contra Costa County Local 21 Member Meeting, December 15, 2009 General Meeting-Candidate Night, Wednesday, Sept. 23 Local 21 Members Demand Recognition at the March 31st Board of Supervisors meeting Board of Supervisors Meeting, June 23, 2009 Local 21 General Meeting, August 26, 2009 Contract Negotiations Workshop - August 13 General Meeting, Wednesday July 29, 5:30pm General Meeting April 29th Wednesday, Noon or 5:30 pm Preparing for The Bargaining Table Protocol Policy Politics
Find a recap of the meeting and the list of Bargaining Local 21- part of the solution... Local 21 is your only protection from unfair
increases in health benefit premiums January General Membership Meeting Brown Bag Lunch November 20, 2008 Info Meetings July, 2008 Info Meeting July 23, 2008 Organizing Meeting June 25, 2008 Medical Center Meeting June 17, 2008

Correspondence Archive

Senator Mark Desaulnier urges Contra Costa Board of Supervisors to expedite Local 21's petition Local 21 demands to meet with the County:

Platten Letter to Baltodano 1-27-09
Cwiek petition 2-29-09
Remarks concerning unit determination

1/13/09 Local 21 Extends Membership Invitation 12/19/08 Local 21 has filed a petition for recognition County Administrator Takes Aim at Unrepresented Employees

Picture Archive

Freqently Asked Questions

NEW Frequently Asked Questions
More answers to what you want to know... Frequently Asked Questions
of Contra Costa County Unrepresented Employees.

Our Union Mission, Methods and Key Priorities

On December 3, 2008, over 70 Local 21 supporters from all corners of Contra Costa County joined together to start laying plans for building a democratic intelligently run union in Contra Costa County. Rather than wait until formal recognition is finalized, activists are starting now to discuss our mission, methods and priorities. This list will be discussed further and the cornerstone of our plan going forward. The next step will be development of our Local 21 Contra Costa Chapter Bylaws. Read more

On March 24 Local 21 staff and organizing committee members met with County officials to discuss the proposed budget. Local 21's Research Director, Joe Brenner has been working with a financial specialist to identify key issues and potential solutions. Below is the letter that was sent to the Board of Supervisors containing Local 21's findings and recommendations.
Read more

On March 20 Local 21 received the County's response from Human Resources Director, Ted Cwiek to the proposed bargaining unit. His response summarily, arbitrarily and illegally attempts to deny the right to organize collectively to occupants of 66 different County classifications held by approximately 269 employees for whom we have petitioned and for which we have proof of a substantial majority declaring in writing their choice for union representation.

Read the Letter to the County
from Senior Representative Bob Britton
View County's Response to our Petition