eNewsletter • October 12 2007
Save-The-Date! Delegate Assembly - October 27th
Local 21's Fall 2007 Delegate Assembly will be held in San Francisco on Saturday October 27th. Delegates from all Local 21 chapters will be present to discuss and make decisions on Local 21 issues including politics, contracting out future organizing efforts, union administration, and finances. The Assembly will take place at Hotel Whitcomb, located at 1231 Market Street (at the corner of 8th & Market). Registration begins at 8:30am, and the Assembly starts at 9:00am. All delegates should R.S.V.P. to Mandy Bratt at mbratt@ifpte.org.
Zone 7 Ratifies New Contract
On October 1st Local 21 members at Zone 7, Alameda County's flood control and water conservation district, voted unanimously to ratify a new two-year contract. Highlights of the new agreement include: four percent general wage increases each year; equity adjustments for Assistant and Associate Civil Engineers; an annual $7,500 educational stipend for each employee; and a new side letter creating a Retirement Task Force dedicated to enhancing retirement benefits for all current and future employees.
City of San Jose Wins Fair Share Election
Local 21 won a fair share election by a landslide in the City of San Jose on September 25th. After ratifying two contracts with major strides in wage increases and triumphs in beating back cuts in benefits, AEA members decided it was time to make certain that everyone who enjoys Local 21 representation and services will pay their fair share. This means there are now over 160 employees in the City of San Jose who are members and non-members paying fees for representation.
Local 21 thanks South Bay staffer Nancy Ostrowski and all the AEA members involved in 'Get Out the Vote' including Olivier Baviere, Luis Da Silva, Dianna Butcher, Greg Jobe, John Raaymakers, Roger Storz, Dale Burrious, Ray Simpson, Mary Follenweider, Henry Servin, Sim Ong, Mario DeLeon, and AEA President Matt Loesch. A special thank you also goes to Union Observers John Mukhar and Leo Ruiz.
Local 21 Oakland Chapters - Bargaining Kickoff A Huge Success
On September 26th, over 200 members from the City of Oakland's four chapters gathered at the Local 21 Kickoff to Bargaining and made a strong, unified statement: We are ready to work together for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for all! The event was held in Oakland's City Hall Chambers where speakers included Mahlon Harmon, Political Issues Coordinator for Oakland's Administrative & Professional Chapter, Sharon Cornu of the Central Labor Council of Alameda County, Executive Director Bob Muscat, and Oakland Vice President Jeff Levin. The Oakland contracts cover over 950 Local 21 members and fee payers and expire on June 30, 2008.
AEA President Candidate for Retirement Board
Matt Loesch, AEA Chapter President, is running for the Employee Representative seat on the City of San Jose's Retirement Board. San Jose's retirement plan, which oversees pension and retiree health care benefits, is administered by a seven-member Board including two City Council members, a member of the Civil Service Commission, two City employees elected by members of the system, a Retiree Representative, and a public member with significant investment experience.
Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters on October 26th, followed by a ballot count on November 26th that will serve as the employee recommendation for appointment. The Mayor and City Council will make a final appointment and swear in a candidate in December. Matt has already received endorsements from leaders at employee unions and organizations including the Municipal Employees Federation AFSCME 101, Association of Building, Mechanical and Electrical Inspectors, City Association of Management Personnel, Confidential Employees' Organization AFSCME 101, International Union of Operating Engineers 3, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 332, Association of Maintenance Supervisory Personnel, and the Filipino American City Employees of San Jose.
Contra Costa Water District led by New Co-Presidency
CCWD President Bob Langston recently retired due to health reasons. To ensure strong ongoing chapter leadership, CCWD members unanimously voted for Gina Oltman and Dianne Tomkins as interim Co-Presidents. Oltman has served as the Administrative Vice President for the past six years, and Tomkins has been a chapter officer in the past. Both union leaders will serve as Co-Presidents until new chapter officers are elected in mid-December and take office at the start of the New Year.
Nine years ago CCWD also had a Co-Presidency. Tanya Yurovsky and current Chapter Executive Board member Doug Anderson jointly held the office. "A Co-Presidency is a good idea. It allows you to keep up with your job and juggle all the duties of a presidency well," said Oltman. The position of Administrative Vice President is now held by Donna Grimes, who joined Local 21 last year.
L21 Express is the weekly email publication of IFPTE Local 21. Local 21 represents more than 7,000 Bay Area professional public employees. Main Office Phone: 415.864.2100 South Bay Phone: 408.291.2200
