YLEA Negotiations Update: Complete Your Survey Before Feb. 20

Dear OCEA bargaining unit member,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our General Membership Meeting at the Community Center on Tuesday, Feb. 13. A full room of leaders and members attended.

To start the meeting, we introduced some new faces from YLEA—a chapter of the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA). We announced that Michelle Arnold from the Finance Department will fill the last vacant YLEA leadership position as Treasuer. We look forward to having Michelle’s experience help us achieve our goals in negotiations. Members also met our lead negotiator, OCEA Labor Relations Representative Kerensa Schupmann, along with OCEA Labor Relations Specialist Jessica Salazar, OCEA Senior Organizer Alisha Greene, and OCEA Operations Manager Veronica Rodarte.

The fight for our next contract has already begun. During the membership meeting Kerensa described the collective bargaining process and the importance of active, engaged union members—especially during these crucial months leading up to and including negotiations for a new contract. In preparation your negotiations team has begun to review the City’s most recent annual report to determine the City’s current and near-term fiscal condition. We will also complete a market analysis, taking into consideration inflation, cost of living, and wage increases secured by neighboring cities.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, NOW IS THE TIME TO COMMUNICATE YOUR NEGOTIATIONS PRIORITIES - COMPLETE YOUR NEGOTIATIONS SURVEY by Monday, Feb. 19.

Remember, the survey is the best way to communicate your personal priorities. For those in attendance at the meeting, we hope we were able to answer your questions. If you were unable to attend but still need more information, please reply to this email.

Click here to complete the survey, and stay tuned for our next negotiations update.

In Solidarity,

Your OCEA/YLEA Negotiations Team

Publication Date: February 15, 2024