Quick Notes

YCEA Local #1 Site Representative

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Leave Accrual/Use Tracking Sheet – Calendar year 2010 tracking sheets were distributed in batches of ten. It was noted that we did not distribute them this year in the News Update because not everyone uses the sheet. But since we have received requests, we are making them available to our Site Reps for distribution.

Master Labor Agreement: A meeting was held with the Personnel Department yesterday to finalize the MLA. The finished document will be sent to YCEA by Friday, January 15, for review and YCEA will verify the final change by January 19. MLA will be scheduled for Board of Supervisors approval the first of February.

Ballot Initiatives: An article from the TIME Magazine titled “Joel Stein on California’s State of Insanity”, written by Joel Stein was distributed. The article addresses in a comical way the consequences of the California Initiative Process and the problems it has created. Check it out on line at www.Time.com. Copies of a proposed initiative tentatively titled “New Employees Benefits Reform Act” was distributed. The initiative is expected to be cleared for circulation in the next few weeks. The initiative would establish Statewide retirement formulas of between 2.3 or 1.8 for safety personnel and 1.65 to 1.25 for miscellaneous employees based upon whether the agency is in Social Security, and would cap retirement annuities at 75% of the employees annual average base wage. It would set the final compensation based upon the average of three years salary and exclude from that average various compensation including longevity pay. The initiative also proposes to require employees to pay between 2% and 4% of the employee contribution, based upon whether the agency is in Social Security. Any changes made locally to retirement benefits would require a vote of the public (there are actually two initiatives being advanced. Both are the same, but one requires a simple majority and the other requires a 2/3 approval for any changes). Please encourage coworkers to speak to their family and friends and to ask them not to sign any petitions related to CalPERS or public pensions.

Local #1 Positive PR Campaign: Public Employees’ Union Local #1 is running a commercial on television promoting the positive things that public employees do for the community. This positive PR campaign is intended to raise public awareness of the many services supported by tax dollars and to put a face on public employees. The commercial is playing next to CNN, Fox News, but can also be viewed on the Local #1 website at www.peu1.org/about/PEU1_Commercial_Spot.aspx.

Contract Status: County may seek another deferral of the CalPERS 7% pickup by the employer scheduled for July 1, 2010. Staff will not be promoting further deferral; however, the YCEA Board and ultimately the membership could decide different. Over the next several months, staff will be holding site meetings to gather feedback and discuss this matter with employees. YCEA will also be meeting with the County on their budget to gather information and advocating for cuts as far away from the delivery of service as possible.

Report: Local Animal Control Departments have appreciated the contributions made in response to the article in December’s News Update, expressing the need for a variety of items. You can view a copy of this article in the News Update archives at www.sycea.org.

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