OCEA members,
We have an important update as we prepare to begin negotiations with OCFA.
OCEA Lead Negotiator Michelle Rubio is moving on to pursue a new job opportunity. We thank Michelle for her work preparing for these negotiations and wish her the best in her next chapter.
Moving forward, OCEA Senior Labor Relations Representative Kerensa Schupmann will serve as lead negotiator and will be joined at the table by OCEA Operations Manager Veronica Rodarte and your primary negotiations team:
- Derrick Chan – GIS
- Evan Carrey – CRR
- Eric Monroe – Fleet
- Mindy Decicco – ECC
- Jonathan Melendez – Finance
To allow time for this transition, our initial Sept. 9 bargaining session was cancelled. We attempted to reschedule sooner, but OCFA was not available before our next scheduled date. Our first bargaining session will now take place Oct. 15.
While our start date has shifted, our preparation has not slowed down. Since our last update, the primary and alternate teams met Aug. 24, followed by primary team meetings Sept. 3 and Sept. 9. Our initial proposals are now finalized, and we are completing the supporting research, justifications, and talking points in preparation for Oct. 15.
We are still beginning negotiations well in advance of the current contract’s expiration in April 2027, and nothing at this time indicates that the revised start date will prevent us from completing negotiations before then.
We will continue to keep you updated as negotiations move forward. To receive negotiations updates and calls to action directly on your phone, text OCFIRE to 94033.
Thank you for staying informed and engaged as we work toward a strong contract.
In Solidarity,
Your OCEA Negotiations Team
