OCEA News
Information is power, and OCEA members receive regular email, text and social media updates about workplace issues and news. Many of those emails are archived below.
CFS Caseload Management Forum--Wednesday, Feb. 16
February 14, 2022
Please plan to attend the CFS Caseload Management Forum at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16. Please use the Zoom link below to join the meeting.
Members Only Seminar: Learn about Wills and Trusts from Orange County's Credit Union (video)
February 14, 2022
One of OCEA’s most popular seminar topics—Wills and Trusts—is back in a virtual format brought to you by Orange County’s Credit Union (OCCU) and presented by Natalie Spiwak, President of Affinity Trusts. The seminar is titled, "Controlling Your Legacy."
AMEA Hot Dogger - Tuesday, Feb. 15
February 11, 2022
Please join us for a hot dog lunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. This event is open to all full and part-time employees.
Program Specific Meetings in CFS begin Feb. 8
February 4, 2022
To ensure each CFS program has a space to discuss program-specific issues, your OCEA team will be hosting meetings for Social Workers in each CFS program.
UPDATE: Follow-up meeting held with Treasurer Tax Collector Freidenrich
February 3, 2022
Last week, OCEA staff members, Michelle Rubio and Adam Ribota, participated in a follow-up meeting with the Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC). The attendees included Treasurer Tax Collector, Sheri Freidenrich, the Assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector, James Kim, County Chief Financial Officer, Michelle Aguirre, and County Chief Human Resources Officer, Colette Farnes. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss what actions TTC Leadership has taken to address the concerns you expressed to OCEA staff in the survey last year following the County’s Performance Audit of the agency. Among those concerns, OCEA members reported issues regarding vacancies, leadership style, and the culture at the TTC.
CFS Social Workers the Focus of Voice of OC Article
January 31, 2022
On Friday, the Voice of OC published an article on the situation facing County Social Workers in CFS. The article is titled, "Breaking Point: County Social Workers Decry Overwhelming Caseloads, Understaffing."
FMEF Negotiations Update - Jan. 28, 2022
January 28, 2022
Your FMEF Bargaining Team met with representatives from the City on January 24, 2022. The City's latest offer was positive and showed progress on wages. The Team is formulating a response for City Council to review perhaps by February 1, 2022. However, the City's latest offer does not provide retroactive pay even though the City delayed negotiations for three months last year. Retroactive pay is more than justified in such a circumstance and your FMEF Bargaining Team will continue to push for that.
CFS Social Worker Update - January 27, 2022
January 27, 2022
On Tuesday, Jan. 25, the Board of Supervisors regular meeting included an agenda item (Agenda Item #14) that impacted the CFS division of SSA. The Board approved the item to bring in an outside vendor to assist with “workflow redesign services.”
FMEF Negotiations Update - January 13, 2022
January 23, 2022
Your FMEF Bargaining Team met with representatives from the City on Jan. 12, 2022. We delivered our proposal for the wage increases you and your families deserve. We included a provision for retroactive pay as the City is responsible for delays in the negotiations process.
Update on CFS Clerical Worker Safety Demands
January 21, 2022
As you know, yesterday’s public cries for safety compelled SSA/CFS Management to call for a meeting to receive worker input on implementing telecommuting schedules for CFS Clerical Workers.
CFS Clerical Workers Stand Together for Workplace Safety
January 20, 2022
Today (January 20) over 100 workers, elected officials, community leaders and fellow OCEA members came together to demand safety for Clerical workers at CFS. Rising COVID cases have resulted in unsafe working conditions for frontline public servants. Repeated demands for telecommuting, additional safety and other mitigations have been met with indifference. As of this morning, SSA management had failed to commit to any concrete additional safety measures, instead hiding behind tired, old assurances to further assess the matter. As a result, OCEA members followed through with our commitment to act if the County did meet our demands.
Rally! CFS Clerical Workers fight for Telecommute Fairness
January 19, 2022
Your Clerical Worker colleagues at Children and Family Services (CFS), SSA are fighting for workplace safety and the ability to telecommute. Come join them at a rally tomorrow, January 20, 2022, outdoors in front of the SSA building, 840 Eckhoff Street in Orange. Don't forget to wear your mask. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a brief program at noon including speakers.
Tomorrow! CFS Caseload Management Forum: Jan. 19
January 18, 2022
Please plan to attend the 9 a.m. Caseload Management Forum tomorrow, January 19th. Please use the Zoom link below to join the meeting.
Kids off to college? 2022 PORAC scholarships now available
January 18, 2022
Keeping the American Dream alive for young people can often mean a college education. Yet the cost of higher education can pose a nearly insurmountable barrier for many working families. The OCEA-affiliated Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) offers scholarships annually to help working people meet this economic challenge.
CFS Social Worker Update - January 14, 2022
January 14, 2022
As you know, OCEA provided SSA Director Debra Baetz with a list of your demands on December 15, 2021. The most urgent of those demands had a 60-day timeline. On Wednesday, OCEA Labor Relations Staff met with Director Baetz and SSA Chief Deputy Director An Tran for a 30-day status check. The Directors indicated that some progress has been made on a number of the items, however much remains incomplete and we must continue to push them to have your demands met. Below is a summary of the items for which we received a progress update:
