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Attention UPE, 008 & 005 Members What Are My Rights Regarding the Strike?

  • UPE
  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read
As an employee of Sacramento County in the 008 and 005 bargaining units, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE. Under California Supreme Court Decision, 1985, CASE #38, CAL3rd, County Sanitation District via Los Angeles; Meyrers-Milias-Brown Act, 3500 et seq of the California Government Code makes it unlawful for “Public agencies and employee organizations shall not interfere with, intimidate, restrain, coerce, or discriminate against public employees because of their exercise of their rights participate in the activities of employee organizations of their own choosing for the purpose of representation on all matters of employer-employee relations) under this law. “Public employee" means any person employed by any public agency, including employees of the fire departments and fire services of counties, cities, cities and counties, districts, and other political subdivisions of the state, excepting those persons elected by popular vote or appointed to office by the Governor of this state.

Simply put, you have the right to STRIKE and YES even if you’re a probationary employee.

WE ASK ALL UPE 005 & OO8 MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE. Your HEALTH CARE, FINANCIAL FUTURE, your DIGNITY and VALUE as a Sacramento County employee are at risk! 

  • If you see a picket line at your worksite, join it!  Don’t go into your workstation or worksite!
  • If you work in the field or telework from home, you will receive an email about the strike or check the website before you go out or log on during the week of the strike. Do not work on the day of the strike!
  • Pass the word to any coworker just in case they did not receive notice of the strike.
  • Don’t stop to argue or debate with a coworker, supervisor, or manager who tries to delay or persuade you not to participate. Just smile and keep walking.
  • No, YOU WILL NOT BE PAID for the time you are participating in a work stoppage. In past work stoppages, county management has typically insisted on putting it down on your timesheets as “absent without leave”, BUT THE COUNTY CAN NOT LEGALLY FIRE YOU OR DISCIPLINE YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN A WORK STOPPAGE.  THAT GOES FOR PROBATIONARY WORKERS TOO.  Please note that your bargaining team will be taking the same temporary financial hit because we believe it is a necessary investment in our future.
  • No, the county won’t let you cover your absence with your accrued vacation, sick leave, CTO, or HIL time.
  • To our coworkers who are on probation: your team and your coworkers recognize and respect the fact that it takes courage for a probationary employee to exercise their right to join in a union work stoppage. However, past experience shows that participating may actually enhance job security for probationers with no performance issues, as management knows the union will claim illegal retaliation if a worker who participated is released from probation.  Please tell the union if management tries to intimidate you into not exercising your rights.
  • How long will the job action last?  The initial strike will be for one day. Thereafter, the union will make every effort to keep you informed through your picket captains as the situation develops. There’s no need to be frightened by this situation.  We’re just doing what millions of workers have done in the past when it had to be done.  We benefit from what they did then, and present and future workers will benefit from what we do today.

 

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