Negotiations Update: Oct. 30

OCEA member,

On Friday the OCEA bargaining team again met with the Superior Court. As you recall, at our last meeting we were able to make significant progress on classification specific items. At this meeting we intended to continue our ongoing discussion regarding wages.

The Court restated its position. According to the Court, OCEA members have received fair wage increases in recent years, and OCEA members are eligible for step increases (managers are not, as was emphasized by the Court). The Court again cited funding shortages from Sacramento as the primary reason it is unable to offer more significant wage enhancements to its workers.

Your OCEA bargaining team was resolute in our position that any contract contain FAIR wage increases, and pushed back strongly against the conclusions made by the Court. We pointed out how wage increases have not kept pace with the cost of living, and that a large majority of our members no longer receive step increases. We further pushed back on the idea that Sacramento is to blame by pointing out misplaced priorities that the Court has made to create this situation. Your Court bargaining team had your back. 

We also made the point that over 85% of our members signed a petition demanding fair treatment.

As it currently stands, the Court is not proposing wage enhancements that meet our fairness criteria. Your bargaining team is confident they wouldn’t meet your criteria either. 

The parties will meet again this week. Your bargaining team has heard you loud and clear and we remain committed to negotiating a FAIR contract.

We’ll communicate about ways you can help us at the table by demonstrating solidarity next week.

In Solidarity,

Bridgette Washington
Senior Labor Relations Representative

Publication Date: October 30, 2017