OCFA Negotiations Update: Aug. 5, 2022

 

Dear OCEA member,

Last week OCEA members at the Orange County Fire Authority stood together with their brothers and sisters from the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3631 to demand fair treatment from the board that oversees OCFA’s public safety and professional staff. Recall OCEA has bargained for over a year while being offered a 1.25% wage increase over 2 years. Hundreds of people from OCEA, Local 3631 and the community turned out to show support for the essential work we do to keep Orange County safe.

The OCEA bargaining team met Aug. 2 for our most recent bargaining session. Despite our voices and our effort, the JPA authority has AGAIN offered the same 1.25% wage increase over 2 years.

The OCEA bargaining team representing OCFA expressed their disgust and decided to act. OCEA leaders Sami Soto and Don Friedline were joined by fellow union members and community allies in Laguna Niguel to fight for fair treatment. Residents of Laguna Niguel experienced firsthand the essential services provided by OCFA when their community suffered the Coastal Fire earlier this year. The public servants of OCFA serve the community with commitment and courage, and this should be a source of pride for our community!

Please watch the video above to see your workplace leaders in action delivering their message to the JPA and Laguna Niguel City Council.

We are not stopping at Laguna Niguel. We were planning to go to Stanton next but they canceled their meeting in response. We are now determining where to go next instead to fight for fair treatment. We will also mobilize for additional City Council meetings EVERY WEEK for the next 3 weeks. We will culminate next month with a press conference at the September JPA Board meeting.

We will need every OCEA member, their family and their friends turnout for the September meeting.

If you can come to an upcoming City Council meeting to show support for your bargaining team members OR if you want to learn more about how you can help fight for a fair MOU, please go to www.ocea.org/getinvolved.

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Publication Date: August 5, 2022