Collection Officer Update

OCEA member,

As you know, this past August the Treasurer/Tax Collectors office planned on changing the long standing practice of sending Collections Officers out in pairs. Upon hearing this news your OCEA Stewards immediately went into action. OCEA requested a delay on the implementation and demanded to meet on the issue.

Today the meeting was held with management to communicate our concerns about this change. OCEA Senior Labor Relations Representative Denise Velasco, OCEA Steward Riders Rivero and OCEA members Mike Claremont and Melinda Donatoni attended the meeting. We educated management on the safety risks we face daily as well as the potential problems that arise from not having a witness present during a collection. At the meeting, we also presented the petition you and your co-workers signed calling on management to continue to allow Collections Officers to go into the field in pairs.

Management acknowledged that there has been no policy and procedures set in place to address our safety concerns. They agreed to delay implementation of any change in practice until we are able to meet to discuss the new proposed policy and procedures. Management also committed to review best practices in other jurisdictions and review safety protocol in other agencies with employees that go out in the field. In the coming weeks we will receive a proposed policy and procedure regarding this change. We will share it with all of you to get your feedback. We will meet with the Agency again on Nov. 2 and will be able to present your feedback on the proposed changes at that time. Only standing together do we assure that our voice is heard.

If you have any questions please reach out to your OCEA staff representative, Denise Velasco and OCEA TTC Stewards.

In solidarity,

Denise Velasco
OCEA Senior Labor Relations Representative

Publication Date: October 17, 2017