Update: Nov. 18, 2021 meeting with Treasurer-Tax Collector Freidenrich

Dear OCEA member,

Last week, OCEA Staff members Michelle Rubio and Adam Ribota participated in a meeting to discuss the County of Orange Performance Audit of the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s (TTC) office. Attendees included Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich, Assistant Treasurer-Tax Collector James Kim, County Chief Financial Officer Michelle Aguirre, and County Chief Human Resources Officer Colette Farnes.

OCEA staff members attended the meeting to ensure TTC workers’ feedback was included in the discussion concerning the TTC’s job performance. We wanted to confirm your voice had equal representation along with the administrative review of TTC staffing, structure, IT capacities, and other operational issues.

We gave an overview of your survey comments that expressed dissatisfaction with staff vacancies, workplace culture, and Ms. Freidenrich’s personal management style. Survey respondents described an unnecessarily and overly involved Department head; a management style that conveys a lack of respect and trust. Ms. Freidenrich took the revelations calmly and professionally.

Action items that came out of the meeting included a commitment by Ms. Freidenrich to delegate tasks more effectively, promote more inter-office communication, and be more aware of how her actions are perceived by TTC staff. We will closely monitor action item compliance and communicate any new developments as they occur.

I want to thank TTC workers for sharing their concerns with OCEA. It takes courage to come forward with information that can result in workplace retaliation. We all know retaliation can occur despite its illegality. If you or your coworkers believe management is retaliating against you, please let your OCEA labor relations representative know immediately.

Speaking truth to power is one of the many benefits of belonging to a union. Standing together, we work to bring fairness and dignity to your workplace.

In Solidarity,

Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager

Publication Date: November 22, 2021