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.
OCEA Governmental Affairs Update, December 15, 2021
December 15, 2021
The gains working people make at the bargaining table are strengthened by good laws that protect against worker exploitation. Corporations use laws to increase their profits by weakening the rights and safety of their workers. Through political activism, strong unions brought us weekends, overtime pay, worksite safety regulations, and the end of child labor.
YLEA members! Check tomorrow's paychecks
December 15, 2021
We wanted to provide an update on what to expect on your next two pay days:
AMEA Part-time Membership Campaign Underway
December 14, 2021
AMEA is campaigning to bring new workers into our union! Our greatest strength is our strength in numbers so adding more workers makes AMEA even stronger. Along with hundreds of full-time workers, AMEA currently represents close to 300 part-time workers in the City.
Tomorrow! CFS Caseload Management Forum
December 14, 2021
Please plan to attend the 9 a.m. Caseload Management Forum tomorrow, Dec. 15.
CFS Social Worker Update - December 9, 2021
December 9, 2021
Following our Social Worker briefing last week, a smaller group of CFS workers met Tuesday night to finalize our list of demands to be presented to SSA Director Debra Baetz on December 14, 2021. The focus of the meeting was to identify the top priorities and direct asks that will begin to relieve the unsustainable pressure on overwhelmed CFS workers. Thank you to the group of members that stayed late into the night making sure this document accurately reflects the challenges CFS workers face.
FMEF Negotiations Update - December 9, 2021
December 9, 2021
Your FMEF Bargaining Team met with representatives from the City on Dec. 8, 2021, just a few hours after a lengthy City Council meeting the previous night.
Members only seminar: Thriving Through the Holidays (video)
December 7, 2021
Kaiser Permanente is partnering with OCEA to provide a series of virtual seminars promoting health and well-being. This week's seminar, "Thriving Through the Holidays," is a short informational video that shares tips on how to celebrate the holidays and special occasions in a healthy way.
Take the Court Clerk Survey
December 7, 2021
As the year comes to an end, your OCEA representatives want and need to hear from you. To ensure your voice is included, please complete the Court Clerk Survey using the link below.
Take the Laguna Niguel Teleworking Survey
December 7, 2021
We want to hear from you regarding the Telework Day the City agreed to in our contract negotiations last Summer. Please complete the survey below so we can identify and remedy any problems with the current process.
Sanitation District Members Decline HRA Benefit
December 3, 2021
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, a ratification vote was held on a proposed Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). The result: A majority of the voting membership declined to ratify the benefit.
SSO Frank Martinez Passes Away
December 3, 2021
It with a heavy heart that we report the passing of SSO Frank Martinez. His career with the Sheriff's Department began in 1993 with his first assignment at the Central Men's Jail.
CFS Social Worker Update - December 2, 2021
December 2, 2021
CFS members attended a virtual briefing Tuesday night to develop action plans to deal with long-standing issues impacting Social Workers and Senior Social Workers in particular. Across the board, a lack of sufficient resources has pushed workers to leave County service and has degraded the work culture. The ER program and several other programs are facing severely excessive caseload rates, scheduling demands that impact work-life balance, and feckless management unable to provide needed resources. The problems brought forward on the call came directly from Social Workers’ responses to a recent survey. Tuesday night's briefing focused on solutions to these entrenched problems.
YLEA members ratify tentative agreement
December 1, 2021
Today YLEA members voted to accept and ratify the tentative agreement with the City.
OC Sanitiation District: Voting now open on HRA benefit ratification
November 29, 2021
Your OCEA Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement with the District concerning a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) benefit. HRAs are designed to help workers pay for qualified medical expenses incurred during retirement. A typical program has workers and employers making tax-free contributions to an HRA account.
YLEA: Tentative Agreement reached, voting on Dec. 1
November 29, 2021
Your YLEA bargaining team submitted our sixth proposal to the City on 11/5/2021 and it was reviewed by the City Council on 11/16/2021. On 11/17/2021, the City responded with its latest proposal. Your bargaining team evaluated all possible responses and ultimately decided to tentatively agree to the City’s proposal today, 11/29/2021.