Orangewood Update: Sign the Petition Demanding Safe Working Conditions!

Dear OCEA member,

Thank you to all who attended our virtual Zoom meeting on Wednesday regarding employee safety at Orangewood. We had over 60 attendees—many who were longtime employees with decades of experience who said the working conditions at Orangewood have become dangerous and untenable. We hear you, and we appreciate all who spoke during the meeting. It is only through your participation that we can begin to make the critical changes needed to ensure your safety at work.

While we have already met with management, Orangewood managers have hinted we do not have a large enough number of employees concerned for their safety—that these are isolated incidents—but we know that is not the case. Many of you have described verbal abuse, physical altercations, and life-threatening situations. The general response from management is that these issues are isolated, and not indicative of a larger safety problem at the children’s home.

In response, we have compiled a list of recommendations we will present to management.

As a next step, we request that you sign a petition that will make management aware of the overwhelming number of members with safety concerns who do not think their concerns have been addressed. Petitions will soon be circulated throughout Orangewood, so please make sure you use only your break or lunch time to sign.

We are also assembling an Organizing Committee to follow up on these issues and maintain pressure on management. If you would like to get involved, please contact OCEA Senior Organizer Alisha Greene at agreene@ocea.org.

If you have further concerns or questions, please reach out to one of your OCEA Labor Relations Representatives assigned to Orangewood by calling 714-835-3355, or emailing:

Danielle Chau, dchau@ocea.org

Charles Leon, cleon@ocea.org

Kerensa Schupmann, kschupmann@ocea.org

Please stay tuned for more information and next actions. 

In Solidarity, 

OCEA

Publication Date: July 7, 2023