Laguna Niguel City Workers - OCEA Update: Nov. 3, 2022

Dear OCEA member,

Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual membership meeting on Nov. 1. Workplace leaders, members, and OCEA staff had a robust multi-hour meeting. The main takeaway from your OCEA Leadership Team is: WE HEAR YOU.

This meeting was prompted by member concerns and questions about the process of political endorsements and our upcoming 2023 negotiations. We had frank conversations about the governance of our union, how to best position ourselves to succeed in negotiations 2023, and other important issues. Here are the takeaways from the meeting:

Union Involvement

The Laguna Niguel Chapter of OCEA is comprised of workers in two bargaining units who work in all departments of the City: The Maintenance, Clerical and Technical Unit and the Middle Management Professional and Supervisory Unit. All members are eligible to participate as workplace leaders and serve on the OCEA-Laguna Niguel Leadership Team. That team is comprised of volunteers who guide the union and are empowered to make decisions on behalf of the entire membership. The current leadership team is comprised of:

Currently there is an opening for a representative in the Maintenance, Clerical and Technical group. If you are interested in learning more, contact one of the members of the OCEA leadership team listed above. The membership and leadership team are supported by the professional labor relations staff at OCEA. Those staff members include Labor Relations Representatives Jessica Salazar and Linda Meyer, who are supported by OCEA’s legal, organizing, and political staff.

In the coming weeks members will have an opportunity to become active through completing their bargaining survey, attending membership meetings, and volunteering for actions that can support our efforts at the negotiations table!

Negotiations 2023

Our MOU expires on June 30, 2023. The work we do in the months leading up to negotiations will largely determine our success. The OCEA-Laguna Niguel Leadership Team and OCEA staff are scheduled to meet Friday, Dec. 2, for an all-day strategic planning session. During that meeting the team will discuss the critical actions necessary to prepare for negotiations. They include scheduled membership meetings, a member negotiations survey, trainings, membership drives and more. A detailed calendar of actions leading up to negotiations will be communicated to all members upon completion of our strategic planning session.

Union Solidarity

A union is an active movement where workers have the power to change their lives by building power. A union is workers standing together. Together we are OCEA. The way we achieve our power is through exercising it. Like a muscle, it must be used. We need you to get involved!

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Laguna Niguel Chapter of OCEA Board
Tim Steed | tsteed@ocea.org
Jessica Salazar | Jsalazar@ocea.org
Linda Meyer | lmeyer@ocea.org

Publication Date: November 3, 2022