June 24, 2016 – Contra Costa Contract Passed!
Dear CCC Teamsters,
The ballots have been tallied and the results are in. With approximately 60% of the membership participating in the vote, the GSM, HSU and LVN/Aide units have approved the tentative agreement.
Many thanks to the hundreds of members who attended meetings, asked questions and provided meaningful input to the Union Bargaining Team. The Negotiations Steering Committee also deserves credit for meeting with negotiators, often after work and on short-notice, and for helping to keep the membership informed throughout the process.
While we have much to do to enforce this contract and many goals ahead of us, today we have good cause to celebrate this victory. Congratulations. By standing together you have shown the County and each other that you are a Real Union. Have a great weekend.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez, on behalf of the Union Bargaining Team
Teamster Kaiser Plan Benefit Information:
Information for GSM/HSU/LVN & Aides Teamsters about Switching to the Teamster Kaiser Plan
Please click the link below to view benefit schedule for the Teamster Kaiser Plan:
Teamsters Local Union No. 856 Health & Welfare Fund Schedule of Benefits: Kaiser HMO
June 14, 2016 Bargaining Update – Tentative Agreement Reached!
Moments ago, your Union Bargaining Team reached a comprehensive tentative agreement with County negotiators. The highlights include a new health plan option which will deliver significant reductions in healthcare premiums, guaranteed wage increases over a three-year term, increases to Code Grey, improved vacation approval language and more.
Final documents, used for voting, are being drafted for signature tomorrow, June 15.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez, on behalf of the Union Bargaining Team
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, GSM, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Maria Banales, LVN/Aide; Scott Castiglione, GSM; Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide; Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
Informational Meetings
Martinez-June 20
7 a.m., Noon and 6 p.m., Teamsters 315, 2727 Alhambra Ave, Martinez
Pittsburg Health Center-June 21
Noon and 6 p.m., 2311 Loveridge, Pittsburg
West County Health Center-June 22
Noon and 6 p.m.,13601 San Pablo Ave, San Pablo
Voting instructions and on-site balloting will be available at each meeting. We will also make drop-in voting available at Teamsters 315 in Martinez. A separate email with more voting details will go out this week.
June 9, 2016 Bargaining Update
We continued negotiations today with an all-day session. We began by negotiating sections of the MOU that need updating and worked on non-economic topics. One of our goals was to “clear the field” in order to focus on the the most critical issues. Here are some highlights from the first half of the day:
Vacations
We reached an agreement to include improvements which will require a uniform timeline for management to respond to requests for vacation and protection against unreasonable denials.
Comp Time
The County has proposed to amend this section so that employees do not have to annually elect to accrue comp time when working overtime. This would mean that the employee defaults to their last annual election unless otherwise modified. While exploring this topic we learned that several bargaining units currently do not have the option for comp time (eg. DSA, DDAA, IAFF, IFPTE, PEU 1 Site Supes, UCOA, SEIU Service Line Supes) while others have an annual election like our MOU (eg. AFSCME 2700 & 512, Public Defenders, DAIA, PPOA, SEIU 1021 line staff, WCE). CNA maintains a right to change the election periodically with 30 days’ advance notice. We are preparing to counter this proposal at tomorrow’s session.
Formatting & Clean-up
We discussed moving supplement language from unit specific sections of the MOU into more appropriate sections of the agreement. The intent is to make the information, even when it is specific to a classification or unit, more readily accessible to members.
Performance Evaluations
The County proposed to modify this section by removing the fact-finding process when evaluations are under appeal. The rationale of the County was that this section has only been utilized approximately 5 times. To the Union, that sounds like it is serving its purpose. When a process escalates, it can deter abuse and encourage resolution and compromise at the lower levels, which is exactly what we want. We expect to keep our current process in these negotiations.
The afternoon session started at approximately 2 pm and the following issues were bargained until the early evening:
Sick-leave buy-back/SDI & Catastrophic Leave
In response to our concerns about inconsistent practices with respect to SDI Integration & Catastrophic Leave, Mr. Craig Taylor, Employee Benefits Supervisor, joined the afternoon session. Members of the Union Bargaining Team gave first-hand accounts of the confusing sick-leave buy-back process. We reviewed examples of various scenarios and gained some clarity on the current practice, which is different from the language in the current MOU. Understandably, members have been frustrated and some report having “given up” on trying to sort out their sick-leave integration during an injury. Your Union Bargaining Team took the opportunity to also discuss concerns with the Catastrophic Leave program and raised issues like the committee composition, committee authority and misinformation about individual donations (yes, you can designate a donation for an individual).
Temporary, Agency, Per-Diem, Registry, Permanent Intermittent…
The County brought Health Services Department Leadership, including COO Tim Cook, into the late afternoon discussions. Peter Finn, Lisa Day-Silva, Paul Valdez, Maria Banales, Kenneth Golsten and other members of the Team stepped up and weighed-in on the impacts of the over utilization of less-than full-time employees. Examples of more favorable assignments being awarded to registry and agency employees were brought forward and we made a point to call-out the fact that some employees are working as “temps” for 3, 4 and 5 years while waiting on full-time employment. Still others are working the equivalent of full-time hours without any benefits. While our team understands that some use of less-than full-time staff may always be a component of staffing, we made the case that temporary employee, per-diems and others should supplement and not replace full-time employees. Our Team focused on some key areas that can be improved:
- 1. preference of scheduling/assignments to full-time permanent employees before registry/agency (especially at the clinics)
- 2. developing pathways to full-time employment for those employees who desire it
- 3. effectively and fairly recruiting for vacancies
- 4. using our economic proposals to help recruit and retain qualified staff
These issues are not just about enforcing the Personnel Management Rules, our Union MOU and/or the Government Code, but they are about working to create solutions that benefit employees and serve the operation of the County health system. We also see that so long as the County over-utilizes temporary employees, they will never see the very real impacts that low wages and high costs of healthcare are having on retention of our members.
Code Grey
With HSD management in the room, we revisited the Union proposal to rectify unequal pay for responding to these critical incidents. This proposal is really about fairness for our members who take on this important and often dangerous responsibility.
We will be bargaining more topics tomorrow and continue our campaign for improved conditions, fair wages and affordable healthcare-it all resumes tomorrow at 1 p.m. That’s all for tonight…
On behalf of the Union Bargaining Team,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
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Bargaining Update: Holding the Line — June 8, 2016
Your Union Bargaining Team met with County negotiators on Thursday, June 2. On the important issues of wages and affordable health care, the Union held firm on our positions and are preparing to negotiate again with the County on June 9 and June 10. We will have a more comprehensive update on June 9, 2016. Please wear your Union buttons and show solidarity with your co-workers and Bargaining Team. If you have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me at rgonzalez@ibt856.org.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
Bargaining Update No. 7 — May 27, 2016
We met with County negotiators on Thursday, May 26th, 2016.
Have you ever felt harassed or discriminated against? Well, the County wants to delete the language that lets you file a grievance about it. The County also proposed to delete the unfair labor practice provision of the contract. Clearly, it’s time for a culture change in this County. Help us in bargaining by adding your name to our “Respect Us” petition here.
With regard to economic proposals, the County offered nine percent over three years. This falls short of the wage increases that are required to retain qualified staff and recruit new hires. We did not agree to the wage offer and expect the County to respond to our economic proposals at the next bargaining session. Our bargaining committee is holding firm that any wage proposal must be weighed with health care costs. Out-of-pocket medical costs must be addressed in this contract.
Our next bargaining session is on June 2, 2016.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, GSM, Maria Banales, LVN/Aide; Scott Castiglione, GSM; Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide; Pete Ellis, GSM, Sharon Holder, LVN, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Trent Tate, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations)
Bargaining Update No. 6 — May 23, 2016
On Friday, your Union Bargaining Team passed global and unit specific proposals addressing topics such as Code Gray pay and training, longevity, improving vacation approval, probationary periods and on-call duty and discussed modality and other issues related to Diagnostic Imaging.
The County passed non-economic proposal lists, essentially offering placeholders for future proposals. While this provided context for future discussions, we ended negotiations once we realized the County was unprepared to negotiate economics.
We made it clear that we expect to see economic proposals at our next scheduled negotiations this Thursday.
Thanks for showing support for the Team on Friday by wearing your Teamster gear at work!
United and Strong,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, GSM, Marina Becerra, HSU, Maria Banales, LVN/Aide; Scott Castiglione, GSM, Cody Colwell, GSM; Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide; Kenneth Golston, HSU, Sharon Holder, LVN, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations)
Bargaining Update No. 5 — May 18, 2016
Yesterday, we met with County negotiators for an afternoon session. We made proposals to place a cap on the utilization of less than permanent full time staff, clarify lunch and rest break entitlements, expand hazard pay to all Union classifications and to improve the disciplinary section of the MOU. The County provided relevant information for our negotiations and we expect that all Union and County proposals will be on the table by our next session. We meet again on Friday, May 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Show your solidarity. Please wear something with your Union logo on Friday to show support for your Union Bargaining Team.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, GSM, Marina Becerra, HSU, Scott Castiglione, GSM, Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Deion Gonsalves, GSM, Sharon Holder, LVN, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations)
Bargaining Update No. 4 — May 9, 2016
Today your Union Bargaining Team met with County negotiators and presented proposals on wages, classification/comparator studies and began discussions on department specific issues like allowing temps & registry to schedule before regular employees, code gray training and pay, expansion of hazard pay and more.
Our next negotiations will take place on Tuesday, May 17 and Friday, May 20.
In Unity,
Rudy Gonzalez
VP & Organizing Coordinator
Union Bargaining Team:
Marina Becerra, HSU, Scott Castiglione, GSM, Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Deion Gonsalves, GSM, Sharon Holder, LVN Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Trent Tate, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations)
Shop Steward Information
Thank you to everyone who participated in the nomination process. Nominees will be contacted by a Teamsters 856 Union Representative to confirm their acceptance of the nomination. Following confirmation, an orientation meeting will be held for all nominee’s and for work areas that have multiple nominees, elections will be conducted. A Teamster Steward orientation will be held Saturday, May 7, 2016 at noon, Teamsters 315, 2727 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. Mail-ballot elections will be conducted the during the week of May 9th with the ballots counted on May 26.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Shop Steward?
Teamsters 856 Shop Stewards are determined leaders who step up to enforce the contract, advocate for their co-workers and inspire solidarity amongst the membership. Stewards often represent coworkers in investigatory interviews and serve as witnesses for the Union in grievance and appeal cases. Shop Stewards are on the Union’s front line and work closely with Union Representatives to protect and enforce the contract.
Who can be a Shop Steward?
Any member in good-standing who is willing to be trained and lead in the workplace, representing their Union and their fellow members.
What if I’ve never been a Shop Steward?
We offer training and mentorship for Shop Stewards. You will learn about your contract, labor relations techniques and help represent your classification/work area in meetings that impact your working conditions.
How many Shop Stewards will we have?
As many as we need to properly enforce the contract and maintain effective communication and leadership in every work area. We are planning to train 60 new Shop Stewards in Contra Costa County by the end of the year.
What type of time commitment does it require?
Routinely, Shop Stewards perform leadership functions on their shift and attend official meetings with the Union and County during normal work hours. Many more Shop Stewards meet semi-regularly on Union committees, as delegates to the Central Labor Council, attend trainings with the International Union and get involved in campaigns to build Teamster Power. There are varying degrees of activism and time commitments that a Shop Steward can make. It’s up to you!
Bargaining survey now available.
To achieve a strong contract we need you to stay involved and that starts with getting your input on bargaining priorities. We will begin unresolved health care negotiations on March 23rd and transition into full bargaining for changes to the entire MOU in April. To prepare for full negotiations, we ask that you fill out the proposal survey. After the results of the survey are compiled, there will be a series of proposal meetings to ensure everyone has an opportunity to provide additional input.
Click here to take the bargaining survey.
Bargaining Update #3 — April 4, 2016
This afternoon we resumed healthcare negotiations. The County had questions about our Equality Proposal and our Teamsters Health Care expert will be conferencing with County and Union negotiators on Tuesday April, 12, 2016 to answer their plan-specific questions. Our next bargaining session is scheduled for April 21, 2016 so get your Teamster gear ready to wear at work. Your solidarity matters!
Contract Surveys Deadline Friday & Proposal Meetings
Your Union Bargaining Team has set a deadline for contract proposal surveys to be completed. Please click here to access and complete your survey by April 8th, 2016.
Once the surveys are completed, we will compile the results and hold contract proposal meetings on April 14, 2016. At the contract proposal meetings, all members are welcome to review the survey results and offer input to our Union negotiators. The contract proposal meetings will take place at Teamsters Local 315, 2727 Alhambra Ave, in Martinez at 7:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
In Solidarity,
Union Bargaining Team
Union Bargaining Team:
Trent Tate, HSU, Marina Becerra, HSU, Scott Castiglione, GSM, Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide, Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Deion Gonsalves, GSM, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vasquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations)
Bargaining Update #2 – March 28, 2016
Your Union Bargaining Team met again with County negotiators this morning. We passed a health care EQUALITY proposal aimed at curbing the excessive out of pocket expenses that we are experiencing. Why call it it an EQUALITY proposal? Because the County is not subsidizing health care premiums equally across the board. Also, we know that nearly 75% of our members work in health care related jobs in Contra Costa County and the standard in the industry is to provide EQUALLY accessible health care to all classifications in a health care system, not just physicians and RNs.
We will bargain again on April 4 at 3 p.m.
Wearing your Union button, shirt, scrubs or pin today? Show us that solidarity and send a photo of you: newsletter@ibt856.org
In Unity,
Union Bargaining Team
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, Marina Becerra, HSU, Scott Castiglione, GSM, Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide, Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Deion Gonsalves, GSM, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola,Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Alvin Mangalindan (Labor Relations)
Bargaining Update #1 – March 23, 2016
Today we met with County negotiators and highlighted the outrageous disparity between county workers when it comes to health care premiums. The County is contributing between $400-$1000 more per month for some employees while our members, often working in the same facilities, are burdened with unsustainable out-of-pocket expenses.
The County intended to propose the package that members previously rejected, but we told them that it fell short and we will make our own proposal. We also noted that no other jurisdiction is paying Kaiser premiums at this rate and that the County has failed to offer a model that is sustainable.
The County has created a system that divides workers into groups of “haves” and “have-nots” on the issue of health care. As Teamsters, we believe that health care is a right and we are taking on this issue with a sense of urgency.
Our next negotiations is on Monday, March 28, 2016. While we are in negotiations on Monday, please wear your Union button, t-shirt, scrubs or badge-holder to show solidarity with your coworkers while we are in bargaining.
In Solidarity,
Union Bargaining Team
Union Bargaining Team:
Jose Avila, HSU, Maria Banales, LVN/Aide, Marina Becerra, HSU, Scott Castiglione, GSM, Lisa Day-Silva, LVN/Aide, Pete Ellis, GSM, Kenneth Golston, HSU, Deion Gonsalves, GSM, Veronica Hudson, GSM, Abnesh Kishore, HSU, Jorge Murillo, GSM, Cynthia O’Brien, HSU, Paul Valdez, GSM, Daniel Vazquez, HSU, Peter Finn, Teamsters 856, Rudy Gonzalez, Teamsters 856, Corey Hallman, Teamsters 856, Richard Andazola, Teamsters 856
County Team:
Stacey Cue (IEDA), Lisa Driscoll (Finance), Glynis Hughes (Labor Relations), Cynthia Schwerin (County Counsel), Janice Amenta (County Counsel), David Twa (County Administrator)
You’re Invited to Our First Membership Training as Teamsters!
This training will cover basic Union rights under the local and state law, the collective bargaining agreement and more. Members will leave the training equipped with tools to keep building an educated and empowered Union.
Join us on Saturday, February 27, 2016. We are using the main hall at Teamsters 315, located at 2727 Alhambra Ave, in Martinez. There is free parking in the rear of the building.
We will begin with light refreshments at 8:30 a.m. and the seminar will start promptly at 9:00 a.m.. We expect to end around 2:30 p.m.
Contra Costa Teamsters Membership Update February 9, 2016
Election Results Certified
Great news! On Tuesday, February 9, The Board of Supervisors certified our election results, and now we are officially Teamsters!
Reach Your Teamsters 856 Representatives
A team of Local 856 staff have been assigned to represent Contra Costa Teamsters. During our initial transition period, you may reach your representatives by phone or e-mail:
By Phone:
(925) 270-0328
By E-mail:
ContraCosta@ibt856.org
Report a Grievance
If you need to report a possible grievance, you may do so online here.
Upcoming Membership Meetings
Membership meetings are currently being scheduled and information about the dates and times will be available soon.
Stay Connected
Receive the latest Contra Costa County Teamsters news via e-mail by signing up here
Welcome to the official campaign webpage for Contra Costa County workers seeking change in a REAL UNION, the Teamsters. We need the strength and resources of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to win better compensation and working conditions and now is the time to do it. The campaign to win Teamsters representation is our first step in achieving the respect we deserve through a better contract.
Dues’ Waiver Approved
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has approved a reduced dues rate for workers in Contra Costa County.
This dues’ waiver was requested by Teamsters 856 and follows suit with waivers granted to those members working in Orinda, Concord, MDUSD, and Walnut Creek. The dues’ waiver reduces the multiplier from 2.5 times your hourly rate of pay, rounded to the nearest dollar, to a lower 2.0 times and applies to all future Teamsters working in Contra Costa County. See below for sample dues rates.
Our Election is Finally Set!
Ballots will be mailed to every member of the GSM, HSU & LVN Attendant/Aide units on December 18 and must be returned by January 29, 2016. Ballots will be counted on February 4, 2016. It’s our time to form a REAL Union!
View the GSM Election Agreement
View the HSU Election Agreement
View the LVN Attendant/Aide Agreement
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will the Teamsters help organize?
Contra Costa County workers who want a professional Union with the resources to win.
When can we leave PEU Local 1 and join the Teamsters?
We can file documents to decertify in October, pursuant to the County Employer-Employee Relations Ordinance.
What about dues?
As a non-profit labor organization, the Teamsters Union is funded exclusively by the membership. The union accepts no money from outside sources in order to protect its integrity and independence.
HSU Employees find out more about dues here
GSM Employees find out more about dues here
Recent Flyers
- What About Dues — General Services & Maintenance Unit
- What About Dues — Health Services Unit
- A Real Union with Real Power
- Know Your Rights
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