United Public Employees (UPE) met with the Sacramento Superior Court on October 22, 2025, to discuss an upcoming policy change regarding the process for reviewing ability-to-pay (ATP) requests in traffic cases. The Court is implementing a procedure in which courtroom clerks will review certain ATP applications only when they are not assigned to courtroom duties. These determinations will not be made while clerks are in the courtroom, but instead on days when they are working

On October 17, 2025, UPE met with the department about the revised Permanency Social Worker Standards CPS (Adult Protective Services). The last time the standards were published was 2019.   Throughout the policy, UPE had many suggestions for improvement that, surprisingly, the department considered and changed. These changes included making sure that the County provides chargers for all device types in order for Social Workers to "be available by cell phone during work hours…

Greetings, Union Brothers & Sisters 005/008 members met with the department regarding the federal government shutdown and Cal Fresh benefits not being administered effective November 1st, 2025. UPE’s primary concern is the safety and security of our members. The department stated that while the actual number of security staff has not been increased, the Sheriff’s Department has agreed to increase patrols by officers at all open lobbies.  UPE expressed dissatisfaction with the

United Public Employees (UPE) met with Merced County Department of Public Health on October 16, 2025, to discuss concerns raised about changes to the duties of employees in the Medical Claims Clerk classification.  During this meeting, it was reported that duties were being affected due to the implementation of an electronic software system, CureMD. The County acknowledged that the implementation of CureMD involves a structural change to how billing and related functions and

On October 16, 2024, United Public Employees (UPE) met with the Merced County Human Services Agency (HSA) to discuss updated operational directives: Directive #79 covering Work Schedules and Directive #48 covering Time and Attendance Reporting. Directive #79 outlines policies for regular work shifts, alternate work schedules (AWS), split shifts, and telework. During the meet and confer, UPE proposed several changes to protect flexibility and fairness for employees. First, UPE

Where should I go on the morning of the STRIKE, Tuesday 10/28/2025? Answer: You can go to your regular job site or to the job site closest to where you live.  What time should I arrive? Answer: Please arrive by 7:00 am. At 10:00 am, all members in Auburn will meet in Roseville.  What time will the strike end? Answer: The strike will conclude at 2:00 pm. Do I go back to work after 2 pm on Tuesday? Answer: NO. Members are to return to work on Wednesday, 10/29/2025 Should I call

On October 23, your Sutter Bargaining Team met with the Court for our 5th negotiations session. We thought we were close to making an agreement today, but the Court kept pushing back on our most important counteroffers. They did come back with proposals to increase their contribution toward employee healthcare, and movement in other areas, but our two remaining asks are not unreasonable. We initially bargained for a three-year contract with a 7% raise in year 1, 4% in year 2,

United Public Employees (UPE) met with Merced County on October 7, 2025, to discuss the County’s proposed Telework Policy. During this meeting, UPE proposed several significant changes to make the policy fairer and more practical for employees. The County agreed to many of these proposals, which resulted in key improvements to the final version of the policy. UPE proposed that employees be allowed to telework in consecutive days, removing the previous restriction that prevent

On October 21, 2025, UPE met again with representatives from the Department of Finance to follow up on the implementation of the new property tax system that the Department had recently implemented.   UPE called attention to the fact that the transition has been slow, as processes are still being updated for the new system. The Department acknowledged that the new system has slowed work down and that there are issues.   UPE asked that the Department send all employees the loc

On October 17, 2025, UPE met with the County to discuss how AB135 will affect Behaviorally Based Case Plans. AB135 partners DHA and CPS to assist parents who are in need, to continue CalWorks cash benefits (if eligible) while the children are out of the home, and the parent/s case plan goal is family reunification (CWFR). The enactment of AB135 will primarily affect the Social Workers in Court Services and Permanency units.              Since in the past, CPS Social Workers h

Greetings, union brothers and sisters. Your 008 & 005 bargaining unit met with the department today regarding the closure of 28th Street. The department stated that members will begin to move as early as January 2026 in small groups over time. The building will be turned over to the owners by June of 2026. The County’s intention is to allow some function groups to bid on their new location based on seniority & others would not and would therefore be forced to go to certain wo

Your El Dorado Negotiations Teams are pleased to announce that the membership of the bargaining unit has ratified a new two-year contract. The El Dorado membership ratified the contract with a vote of 95% Yes to 5% No. Salary increases will take effect on the pay period beginning November 7, 2025.    UPE thanks all the members for their support during negotiations and their participation in the ratification vote. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!