Meeting with California Mediation Service

Today UPEC 792 LiUNA and several DPPA Board members meet with the State of California Mediation Service about the election to vote on Representation. It was decided that the election will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 6th and 7th, 2011. Tentatively it will be held in four locations, and I will give you more when everything has been decided. But hold open these two days to vote.

028 Representation Election

There has been some misinformation that has been put out to some employees of 028 in regards to what the result of 028 representation would be. The DPPA Board would like to clarify the costs and benefits of 028 representation election. If, in the coming weeks, United Public Employees of California, Local 792 (UPEC) is elected to represent 028 members, the dues for those employees that join would be $37.50 per month. UPEC has been putting a lot of time and effort in informing us as to what to expect from representation, including the organizational structure, handling of 028 group and individual issues, and contract negotiations. Representation does not mean that we will get everything we want, or be exempt from effects of the county budget crisis, but it will allow us to negotiate and have a voice concerning the work environment, salary, benefits, retirement, and other issues that affect 028 members.

Last Meeting with the CIO

On February 8th, 2011 in the afternoon, I had my last meeting with David Villanueva, the CIO of the County. I offered congratulations on his new job as the Administrator of Internal Services Agency. He is going to start on Monday, February 14th, 2011 and he is leaving the IT world much better than he found it. David said that there is not going to a replacement due to the pitfalls that await the new CIO and that might be someone who is applying for the job.

The next agenda item was DPPA Representation Election. It is still unclear when the election will take place, due to the other County unions trying to get 10% of 028 signatures to get on the ballot. DPPA has unanimously agreed with what the committee recommended which was UPEC (United Public Employees of California, Local 792) and laid out our course. On Friday, February 11th, 2011 the County will be able to go to the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service to schedule the election.

Then I asked about the ‘IT Classifications and Civil Service’ one more time. This is posted on dppa.org as ‘TRG "DRAFT" Meeting MINUTES - Tuesday, November 16, 2010’ and all 028 employees should take a look at it. Since January 18th, 2011, the last time I called a meeting with him and Rami, they had another meeting that told them that the County has written into its Charter that employees has the right of Civil Service and it would take a vote by the people of Sacramento to change it.

As for the Budget, David said that he doesn’t see any layoffs in the new year; but the Governors budget is still in question.

DPPA has enjoyed the meetings with the CIO and wishes him the best of luck.