eNewsletter - March 6, 2008
ULP Filed Against Alameda County
Last Friday we filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against the County of Alameda with the State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Our complaint charges the County with regressive and surface bargaining for a successor agreement with our Civil Engineers Management chapter, CEMU.
Despite agreeing to an 8% retroactive raise for their entry and journey level engineers, the County has offered the principal and supervising engineers only a 1% increase effective upon when the Board of Supervisors gets around to two readings and formal approval of any settlement. An additional 2% has been offered effective this April or upon Board approval, whichever comes later.
The County's first year market equity adjustment offers of 5.28% to 3.8% were scaled back to only 2% in their "take it or leave it" last, best and final offer. We are charging that the County's offer has remained essentially unchanged from the start of bargaining until their regressive last, best and final offer on January 11.
Talks mediated by the State Mediation and Conciliation Service began on Monday, but have shown no progress to date.
East Palo Alto Elects New VP
On February 25, our East Palo Alto members elected Brad Tarr as their new Vice President. The position had been vacant. Brad joins President Marie McKenzie, Secretary Wilbert Lee, and Sergeant-at-Arms Minnie Warren. Congratulations, Brad!
COPE Deductions Now Available in Hayward
Through Labor-Management discussions, we have successfully negotiated payroll COPE (committee on political education) deduction for our members in the City of Hayward. This is a critical tool which allows members to regularly and easily participate in our T.J. Anthony political action fund. The T.J. Anthony Fund allows Local 21 to support politicians who understand the critical importance of our work.
Danny Galang will serve as Hayward's COPE Chair and will launch an enrollment campaign in April.
Tentative Agreement Reached in Hayward
A tentative agreement was reached in the City of Hayward on March 3. Our bargaining team was successful in winning equity adjustments for all classifications ranging from 5.62% to 15.34% to be paid out over the first three years of the four year contract. In addition to the equity adjustments, chapter members will receive annual general wage increases of 3%, 3%, 4% and 4%. The chapter will hold a tentative agreement ratification vote on March 12. Congratulations and thanks go to bargaining team members Ed Pilling, Bob Walsh, Dan Galang and Ramona Portillo. Assisting them were alternates Luis Samayoa, Sally Porfido, Tammie Griswold, Keith Silva and Fred Trieselmann.
L21 Express is the bi-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
