OCEA News
Information is power, and OCEA members receive regular email, text and social media updates about workplace issues and news. Many of those emails are archived below.
OCEA pushes for more COVID leave time
January 7, 2022
For almost two years, County workers have fought to keep themselves safe, to protect their families, and to keep our government open. As the Omicron variant began to drive the current unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases, OCEA took action and demanded the County provide County workers with additional Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL).
Court Worker Update: Jan. 6, 2022
January 6, 2022
A safe workplace is the value that drives all other needs. COVID-19 has put public servants directly in harm's way. Further, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has increased the number of positive cases exponentially. We know that many of you are concerned about your health and the well-being of your family. We want to remind everyone that the Court has extended the Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) benefit that was provided as part of early COVID-19 relief efforts through June of 2022. EPSL allows for workers to take necessary time for COVID-19 related illnesses.
The Solution is Simple: More Sick Leave
January 4, 2022
A safe workplace is the value that drives all other needs. COVID-19 has put public servants directly in harm's way. Further, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has increased the number of positive cases exponentially. For those reasons we have requested that the County provide an additional 80 hours of COVID-19 sick leave for all OCEA-represented workers in the County. This is not an unusual request. Local public jurisdictions such as the Orange County Superior Court, the City of Anaheim, and the University of California chose to extend their internal leave programs.
AMEA: Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program Extended through April 14, 2022
January 3, 2022
As many of you know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) required employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
Members Only Seminar - Kaiser Permanente' s Ready-made Soup Recipe (video)
December 28, 2021
Kaiser Permanente is partnering with OCEA to provide a series of virtual seminars promoting health and well-being. This week's seminar, "Kaiser presents Winter Vegetable Soup," is a short informational video with tips about using your favorite ingredients and your crockpot to make a hearty vegetable soup.
FMEF Negotiations Update December 23, 2021
December 23, 2021
Your FMEF Bargaining Team met with representatives from the City on Dec. 22, 2021. Continued progress was made in the area of wages but the offer still does not reflect the pay you and your families deserve.
Congratulations to our OCEA Stewards!
December 23, 2021
OCEA recently held our annual Steward Awards ceremony and we wanted to share the names of the awardees with you. You may work with some of the winners!
Members only seminar: Read The Food Label and Know What It Means (video)
December 21, 2021
Kaiser Permanente is partnering with OCEA to provide a series of virtual seminars promoting health and well-being. This week's seminar, "Read the Food Label and Know What It Means," is a short informational video about how to decipher food label information.
CFS Social Worker Update - December 17, 2021
December 17, 2021
On Wednesday, December 15, two important meetings occurred in the campaign to win improvements for OCEA Social Workers in CFS. The first meeting was the CFS Caseload Management Forum. First, thank you to all the Social Workers who provided critical feedback to OCEA staff during the forum. Workplace leaders and OCEA staff use this information to challenge management’s power.
Members only seminar: Stock up on staple foods (video)
December 17, 2021
Kaiser Permanente is partnering with OCEA to provide a series of virtual seminars promoting health and well-being. This week's seminar, "Keeping your pantry stocked with staple foods," is a short informational video about a how a well-stocked pantry will help to make the healthy and tasty choice the easy choice. Learn how you can stock your pantry so you have the right ingredients for a healthy meal on the go.
Kids off to college? PORAC scholarships now available
December 16, 2021
Keeping the American Dream alive for young people can often mean a college education. Yet the cost of higher education can pose a nearly insurmountable barrier for many working families. The OCEA-affiliated Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) offers scholarships annually to help working people meet this economic challenge.
OCEA Governmental Affairs Update, December 15, 2021
December 15, 2021
The gains working people make at the bargaining table are strengthened by good laws that protect against worker exploitation. Corporations use laws to increase their profits by weakening the rights and safety of their workers. Through political activism, strong unions brought us weekends, overtime pay, worksite safety regulations, and the end of child labor.
YLEA members! Check tomorrow's paychecks
December 15, 2021
We wanted to provide an update on what to expect on your next two pay days:
AMEA Part-time Membership Campaign Underway
December 14, 2021
AMEA is campaigning to bring new workers into our union! Our greatest strength is our strength in numbers so adding more workers makes AMEA even stronger. Along with hundreds of full-time workers, AMEA currently represents close to 300 part-time workers in the City.
Tomorrow! CFS Caseload Management Forum
December 14, 2021
Please plan to attend the 9 a.m. Caseload Management Forum tomorrow, Dec. 15.