Negotiations Update: Make Your Voice Heard in this Union!

Dear OCEA member,

As you know, preparations for County Negotiations are in full swing. Now's the time to have your voice heard by taking the 2023 OCEA Negotiations Survey and telling us what your priorities are at the negotiations table this year. Thank you to all OCEA members who have already completed your survey!

Please CLICK HERE to submit your completed survey anytime on or before 5 p.m. Feb. 23, 2023.

Negotiating your contract is the most important process we engage in as a union, and we are focused on making sure the integral work you and your co-workers perform for local residents is recognized by the County. Team OCEA has been hard at work—performing salary and job studies; speaking with Stewards and members; creating communications across multiple channels; and much more—so that when negotiations begin in March, we’re ready to fight for you.

Watch the video here to learn more from Charles Barfield, OCEA’s General Manager and Lead Negotiator.

Standing with us is the first labor-friendly majority on the Board of Supervisors in OCEA and Orange County history. These negotiations mark a New Day in Orange County. We have the opportunity to reinvest in public servants while also addressing the challenges facing us.

But first, the most important step you can take today is to fill out your Negotiations Survey and to encourage your fellow members to do the same. Only members can vote on the contract, so please make sure your co-workers have signed up for OCEA membership, too.

If you would like more information from OCEA about negotiations before taking the survey, we have scheduled a series of “OCEA Members Only: Negotiations 101” events around the County, including these upcoming stops:

A union’s strength is directly related to the level of membership involvement. If you would like to join the Negotiations Team and represent all OCEA members at the table, you can sign up to request an application as part of the survey. Please note: The deadline for applying to the Negotiations Team is Feb. 10, 2023, to allow us enough time to review applications and interview candidates.

We hope to see you at an upcoming event and look forward to representing you at the negotiations table this year. If you have questions about negotiations or the survey, please contact OCEA at 714-835-3355.

To receive text messages about negotiations from OCEA, text NEGOTIATIONS to 43506.

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Publication Date: February 3, 2023