OCEA's Good News Gazette: Vol. 1
WELCOME TO THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THE
OCEA GOOD NEWS GAZETTE!
This is our place to highlight OCEA members, our work in the labor movement, news and events. If you have good news to share, please email OCEA Communications Director Niyaz Pirani at npirani@ocea.org. You could see your story here or on our social media soon! Click here to follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
OCEA VISITS SACRAMENTO FOR 2023 JOINT LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
A delegation of OCEA’s Board of Directors members and staff attended Labor’s Joint Legislative Conference in Sacramento May 7-9. The event—co-hosted by the California Labor Federation @californialabor and the State Building and Construction Trades Council @statebuildingtrades_ca provides an opportunity for labor unions statewide to celebrate California lawmakers who have an outstanding record standing with working people, and to lobby them at the capitol regarding upcoming legislation that may benefit or harm union members and their families.
This year’s conference began with all three labor-friendly candidates running to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein addressing the session and taking photos with OCEA members.
Later, attendees heard from union leadership including California Labor Federation President Kathryn Lybarger and Executive Secretary-Treasurer Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Jennifer Abruzzo from the National Labor Relations Board, State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and more.
That evening Governor Gavin Newsom attended an awards reception for legislators and spent time with OCEA’s attendees.
The following day the OCEA delegation lobbied lawmakers, attended events in support of nurses and in support of the Constitutional Amendment to expand the Right to Organize and Negotiate.
OCEA Labor Relations Specialist Louie Gurrola, a former County employee who attended the event for the first time, said the exposure to the ways the labor movement positively effects workers of all professions—especially non-English speakers—impacted him personally because it reflected experiences in his own life.
“I think one of the things people don’t know, being a County employee," he said, "is how much hard work and advocacy goes into ensuring ... employees all across California have fair representation—and the ability to have Union representation at that.”
Pictured above: OCEA's delegation enters the State Capital in Sacramento
Pictured at right: OCEA President Judy Bowling with California Gov. Gavin Newsom)
OCEA JOINS FORCES WITH LOCAL VETERANS RESOURCE FAIR
OCEA had the privilege of serving lunch recently at the Volunteers of America—OC First Annual Resource Fair, an event that connected 24 veterans and 5 veteran caretakers to essential community services and outreach.
The event included Social Services Agency technicians qualifying veterans for food stamps and general benefits; the Employment Development Department, there to enroll veterans in the State unemployment system; OC211, the hub for resources in O.C.; the Veterans Administration, connecting veterans to vital VA services; and a barber providing fresh haircuts.
Thank you to former OCEA Steward Carmen Goss for inviting OCEA to attend. Carmen worked for more than 20 years at the County—first with Social Services Agency, then the District Attorney, and finally Child Support Services where she was the Veteran Liaison—before retiring in 2016. Now she works with Volunteers of America—OC helping homeless veterans.
“Being an OCEA Steward was important to make sure we got equitable pay, our benefits, and what we deserved,” she said. “It feels amazing that even though I’m not an active part of the organization, OCEA is still there to back not only me, but the community that we all serve—our veterans.”
(Pictured: OCEA staff members Carlos Rosales, Adam Ribota and Jared Anderson with former OCEA Steward Carmen Goss)
SHERIFF'S DISPATCHER WINS MEDAL FOR MERIT
OCEA joins the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in celebrating the work of OCSD Dispatcher Kelli Jensen, who was honored during the 2023 Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony on May 4.
Kelli—an OCEA member who has worked with the Sheriff’s Department since 2016—was given the Medal for Merit for her role in calmly and professionally dispatching deputy units and additional resources during the Geneva Presbyterian Church mass shooting incident in May 2022.
Thank you to Kelli for the work she did in this moment to help prevent more lives lost in this incident. The residents of Orange County, the Sheriff’s Department and OCEA appreciate her hard work and dedication.
Click here for an Instagram Reel of Kelli receiving her award.
(Pictured: Dispatcher Kelli Jensen receives her Medal for Merit from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes)
LONGTIME OCEA STEWARD CHARLES GUSTIN RETIRES
Congratulations to OCEA member Charles Gustin of CEO/IT on his retirement in May after working at the County of Orange for nearly 29 years!
Based on the packed house and kind words at his retirement party, it’s easy to see that Charles made an impact on his co-workers just like he did at OCEA! Charles became a dedicated OCEA Steward about a decade ago during a time when the County was looking to outsource IT jobs and he remained active and engaged since then. Most recently he was a member of the 2023 OCEA Negotiations Team.
We look forward to welcoming Charles into our RETIREES IN ACTION group!
(Pictured: OCEA Steward Charles Gustin receives a recognition award from OCEA Assistant General Manager Tim Steed)
Publication Date: June 9, 2023
