On May 11, 2012, the Court met with the Office Technical Board for continuing discussions regarding possible lay-offs and the status of UPE’s information requests. Ed Pollard, the Court’s Executive Director, was unavailable to meet with us. Unfortunately, the Court’s Chief Negotiator, Dennis Batchelder and the Labor Relations Officer, Johnny Smith, could not provide some of the information we requested or were not authorized to answer some of our questions. During this meeting, the Office Technical Board was repeatedly told, “I don’t know that” or “I don’t have that answer right now” or “Ed would be the one to answer that question”.

Below is a summary of the questions asked regarding the Voluntary Separation Incentive Plan and possible lay-offs:

• Q: Is there any update to our previous information requests?
  A: No.
  
• Q: Does the Court have a target in mind, or know what they want from the Office Technical Bargaining Unit?
  A: 60 employees were given preliminary notices court wide; that is the worse case scenario. We do not know if all 60 will actually be laid off, if any.
  
• Q: Is there an aggregate number of pending applications as to the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program?
  A: I don’t know the number of pending applications but there are 10 signed agreements; 5 UPE, 4 Teamsters, 1 from management/unrepresented. The plan is to have those employees (who have signed VSIP agreements) separated from service by June 29, 2012.
  
• Q: Will the 5 UPE bargaining unit employees who have taken the VSIP program be used to offset possible lay-offs within our bargaining unit?
  A: That is our plan.
  
• Q: Is there a target date for official lay-offs? When will you know that date?
  A: We do not know that date.
  
• Q: Who made the decision that 54 UPE members would receive Advisory Letters? Was it the Judicial Officers within the Executive Committee or the Court Directors?
  A. The decision was made as the result of a reorganization plan devised in closed door meetings and only Ed Pollard can fully answer this question.
  
• Q. Is Ed Pollard available so that we can ask him this question?
  A. Ed Pollard is not available to attend this meeting today.

  The Office Technical Board will remain persistent in asking the hard questions and in demanding real answers from the Court in an effort to save jobs within our bargaining unit. The Office Technical Board is fully committed to continuing our meetings with the Court regarding non-binding discussions as to an extension of our contract Our next meeting with the Court is Friday afternoon, May18, 2012.

  Brown Bags will begin next week. Flyers will be arriving to your work sites soon as to dates, times and locations.

  IN SOLIDARITY,

  Geri Bradford-Hill
  Office Technical Board Chair

  Sacramento Superior Court has cancelled this week's meetings as they need more time to fully understand the latest budget implications.

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  CURRENTLY OFFERED TO THE COUNTY UNITS. COMING SOON TO THE COURT UNITS!

  To Enroll for these Additional Benefits, please check out our 'Calendar' page for the times and locations.

  
  

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  ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO
  UPE, LOCAL 1 UNION MEMBERS

  United Public Employees, Local #1, is excited to offer our membership new insurance benefits to help you better protect yourself and your family. Your Governing Board approved a number of new benefits, and our enrollment company Benefits Technologies will offer open enrollment to the following programs in May 2012:

  • LTD
  • Critical Illness
  • Accidental Insurance
  • Cancer Insurance
  • Legal and Identity Theft
  • Purchasing Power

  Please review the enclosed flyers. Benefits Technologies has negotiated significant concessions from the carriers for our UPE, Local #1, Union Members Only.

  Only for 6 weeks during open enrollment, all insurance plans are Guaranteed Acceptance NO health questions asked.

  All plans are available thru payroll deduction.

  Counselors from Benefits Technologies do not work on a commission and will be available at most worksite locations for enrollment and to answer any questions.

  Check your worksite bulletin boards and our website for dates and information: www.upe1.org under the Benefits Menu. Or contact the UPE office 916-736-9503. These are not Sacramento County sponsored benefits. All questions should be directed to UPE, Local 1.

  UPE, Local #1, believes that our members, the working class, should be offered benefits and programs at a reasonable rate. Yet another way we can help our members build and maintain a suitable quality of life, and bring value to our UPE, Local #1 family.

  

  General Membership Meeting
  Tuesday, May 22nd - 6:00pm
  UPE - Union Hall
  5370 Elvas Avenue, Suite 100
  Sacramento CA 95819
  

MEETINGS FOR MAY 2012:
May 2 - 6pm: 005 Governing Board

May 8 - noon: Court Professional Board

May 8 - 6pm: 008 Governing Board

May 10 - 5:30pm: Court Office-Technical Governing Board

May 17 - 6pm: Stewards Council Meeting

May 22 - 6pm: UPE, Local #1 Membership Meeting/Board of Directors

May 28th - UPE OFFICE CLOSED for Memorial Day.

BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT:
Times and Locations:

May 18 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1, Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

May 21 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

May 22 and 23 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - 4433 Florin Rd - Conf Rm 307

May 25 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

May 28 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hallby APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

May 29-30 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - 5747 Watt Ave - The Challenge Room

June 1 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

June 4 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242

June 8 - 10am-2pm Benefits Open Enrollment - UPE, Local 1 Union Hall by APPOINTMENT ONLY - 888-941-9242