Health Care Agency
OCEA members in the Health Care Agency are represented by union stewards and a professional staff of labor relations representatives. Standing together, every OCEA member in the Health Care Agency plays a role in achieving better wages, retirement security and fair rights on the job.
The information below is a resource for all OCEA members in the Health Care Agency. Below, you will find a list of stewards and staff representatives for OCEA members assigned to the Health Care Agency. You’ll also find the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is the negotiated union contract that sets forth the wages, hours and working conditions guiding your employment. And you can also find updates and news from OCEA about what’s happening in your agency and across the County.
Stay informed: Union news that affects you!
Happy Labor Day!
September 6, 2021
Labor Day commemorates the struggles of working men and women who fought for many of the things we take for granted today – weekends, the eight-hour workday, the end of child labor, and the right to negotiate as equals for the fair wages and benefits you and your families deserve.
Look for your OCEA Open Enrollment packet in the mail!
September 2, 2021
This year, the OCEA Health & Welfare Trust open enrollment period is September 1 through September 30, 2021. Your open enrollment benefits enrollment guide is in the mail and you should receive it soon. Your benefits will remain the same through plan year January 1 through December 31, 2022, unless you submit new open enrollment forms to OCEA during open enrollment.
Next week! Membership meeting Aug. 31
August 26, 2021
Throughout this historic public health crisis, you and your coworkers have served the community with courage and professionalism. As the pandemic evolves, one thing remains consistent: OCEA’s ongoing demands to keep all workers safe! Workers standing together have strength in numbers. In this environment, the most impactful way workers can effectively exercise their power is by demanding safety in the workplace!
OCEA Safety Survey and Membership Meeting
August 23, 2021
Throughout this historic public health crisis, you and your coworkers have served the community with courage and professionalism. As the pandemic evolves, one thing remains consistent: OCEA’s ongoing demands to keep all workers safe! Workers standing together have strength in numbers. In this environment, the most impactful way workers can effectively exercise their power is by demanding safety in the workplace!
OCEA participates in Supervisor Katrina Foley COVID press briefing
August 17, 2021
Speakers at Monday’s Coronavirus press briefing held by 2nd District Supervisor Katrina Foley included County Health Officer and HCA Director Dr. Clayton Chau and public school teacher Sarah Auwarter. Supervisor Foley asked me to provide OCEA’s perspective as General Manager of the County’s largest public sector union. The topic: The rising infection rates among County workers reported by Orange County Register on Saturday.
Update: New State of California Public Health Orders
August 13, 2021
COVID-19 remains a serious concern to public health. To protect vulnerable populations and to ensure a sufficient, consistent supply of workers in high-risk healthcare and congregate settings, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently issued four (4) Public Health Orders designed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Depending on your work functions, these Public Health Orders may require you to provide proof of your COVID-19 vaccine, submit to regular COVID-19 testing, and/or receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Tomorrow! Team Excellence Award Deadline Aug. 13
August 12, 2021
The deadline for nominations to be submitted for the 2021 Steve Ambriz Team Excellence Award is tomorrow, Friday, August 13th, 2021. Visit the HCA/OCEA Labor Management Committee (LMC) Team Excellence Award Intranet webpage for application criteria, details about previous winners, and additional information about what makes an excellent team. A nomination form can be downloaded under Application Submission. Because the link is on the HCA intranet, I cannot share it with you here.
Public Guardian Case Management Forum Call for Agenda Items
August 9, 2021
The Public Guardian Case Management Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18th. The conference call details are provided by management in advance of each meeting.
2021 Virtual Health Fair coming September 8th!
August 3, 2021
OCEA’s Health Fair is coming up in just a few short weeks and that means bags, swag, and vendor giveaways along with expert tips on how to live your best, healthy life.
Congratulations 2021 OCEA Scholarship Winners!
July 26, 2021
There were proud parents and happy students at the OCEA Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY STEWARDS
Tina Aguilar
Darlene Amaya-McDonald
Cheri Azodi
Huda Bayaa
Karen Blanchard
Nabila Bolisay
Mackenzie Bray
Erin Brown
Robert Brown
Bridget Burgos
Catherine Canneto
Marisol Chavez Canales
Mary Chavez
Tina Chen
Frank Cienfuegos
Maria Corona
Colette Craig
Elvira Dodd
Sandra Duarte
John Duckson
Nichole Duplesse
Marco Escobedo
Virginia Espinoza
Francis Evaldez
Pamela Garcia
Christopher Goffredo
Rosa Gonzalez
Marilyn Hernandez
Jennifer Hoang
Yen Hong
Thomas Hsuing
Scott Huffman
Gayana Jones
Lauren Juarez
Paul Juarez
Kathy Kendrick
Karim Khalil
Katherine La Sure
Peter Lai Dinh
Juliet Le Rankin
Cecilia Leon
Kim Long
Luz Lopez
Angelo Lugo
Guadalupe Madrid-Long
Amy Marchen
Maria Marin
Veronica Martin Navarro
Jesse Martinez
Diane Mason
Alexandra Merrit
Vida Mofidi
Francisca Moreno Martinez
Faith Morrison
Fernanda Morton
Jennifer Negro
Carol New
Kassandra Nguyen
Yadith Orellana
Veronica Ortiz
Nisha Pagan
Luyen Pham
Sarah Phan
Anthony Ragazzo
Janice Richardson
Milfred Dwain Salwasser
Bianca Sandoval
Fatiha Shannon
Shouka Sharifpour
Catherine Shreenan
Janeth Silenski
Kim Sligar
Suzette Smith
Crystal Swart
Alfredo Valle
Sharmie Joy Velasco
Genesis Velez
Alyssa Vergara
Vuthy Yam
Victoria Young
Elizabeth Zayas
Martha Zuniga
HAVE A QUESTION?
OCEA LABOR RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVES

Carolyn Gasga
Labor Relations Representative

Donika Nuñez
Labor Relations Representative

Mariela Ortiz
Labor Relations Representative

Sam Rice
Labor Relations Specialist

Veronica Rodarte
Operations Manager

Michelle Rubio
Senior Labor Relations Representative