Read the SLOCEA blog for news and updates on what’s happening with your local, independent labor union.
The Importance of Independence
In June 1985, SLOCEA found itself in a perilous situation; membership in the organization had been trending downward, finances were tight, and tensions with local unions over disputed territory were high. Weighing their limited options and wary of potential bargaining unit “raids” from other unions, the Association’s leaders decided it was in SLOCEA’s best interest to partner with a more powerful international ‘parent’ union.
Due Process Rights
As a public employee with permanent status, you have property rights to your job and rights to due process in formal disciplinary matters wherein you would suffer monetarily. According to law, due process must be provided prior to a state or local government terminating, suspending, demoting, or reducing the pay of an employee, who has a vested property interest in his or her job.
Adding to SLOCEA’s Leadership Team
This past month we have had several members step up into new leadership positions filling vacant seats on our Board of Directors as well as the Steward Committee…
Directors Sworn in at Annual Membership Meeting
Returning Directors were sworn in at the annual general membership meeting…
2022 General Membership Meeting
SLOCEA held the 2022 Annual General Membership Meeting on October 19, 2022.
Your Rights in an Investigative Interview
The Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has held that when an employer conducts an investigatory interview to investigate allegations of misconduct against an employee, the union has the right to reasonable notice of the alleged wrongdoing in advance of the interview.
County Negotiations are Concluded!
On August 29, 2022, the SLOCEA Negotiating Teams and SLO County reached tentative agreements for successor Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for the Trades, Crafts and Services Unit (bargaining unit 02) and the Big Unit. …
SLOCEA History: February 1988 Interview with Eva Hurd, a SLOCEA Pioneer
A 1988 interview with one of SLOCEA’s founding members, Eva Hurd, from the SLOCEA archives.
“SLO County Is Lucky To Have A Strong Advocate Like SLOCEA”
After working for the past year in a position represented by a very large union I have been reflecting on my time as a member of SLOCEA…
Thank You, Pat, For Eight Years Of Steadfast Leadership
In April 2014, SLOCEA was transitioning to our new General Manager Pat McNamara. At that time, I had just 2½ years under my belt as SLOCEA’s Field Representative and was still extremely green…
2022 Academic Scholarship Recipients Announced
It is truly SLOCEA’s honor to award Academic Scholarships. This year we received nine outstanding applications - each extremely impressive and certainly worthy of special recognition for all their hard work and dedication. SLOCEA’s Academic Scholarship Committee awarded three Academic Scholarships and six Academic Awards..
Labor Terms to Know
Since SLOCEA and the County are in the throws of negotiations for a successor agreement, this seemed like a good time to further clarify some of the labor terms and jargon that you may be reading on the Member Portal…
The Importance of the Member Portal
During the 2014 collective bargaining cycle, SLOCEA introduced the Member Portal. This new site was added to the home page of our website and was primarily created to provide confidential, up-to-date news and information to the membership regarding negotiations for their individual bargaining unit…
SLOCEA Endorsed Candidates Elected to Office
On June 7, 2022, Americans throughout California participated in this year’s primary elections. Among the many issues on the ballot to be decided by voters, were the questions of which candidates are worthy to serve on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, for districts 2, 3 and 4?
SLOCEA’s Special Emergency Grant Program
In April 2021, SLOCEA’s Board of Directors established a Special Emergency Grant (SEG) program, which is intended to get cash rapidly into the hands of a member’s designated recipient in the event of the members death…
Am I “On Call”??
We all know that anytime you are doing work for your employer you must be compensated. However, some employees don’t realize that they also need to be compensated if they are off duty but required to be available to respond to unforeseen issues…
2022 Collective Bargaining Update
The collective bargaining season is off and running for 2022. Accordingly, SLOCEA is now at the bargaining table with two different employers on behalf of represented bargaining units…
SLOCEA Makes History, Celebrates 75 Years!
This year SLOCEA makes history by recognizing our 75-year Anniversary as a labor union in San Luis Obispo County. While that’s a lot of history, preserving the rights of workers goes back much farther…
Member Survey Update: Collective Bargaining
Our thanks and gratitude to all members who took the time out of their busy lives, to complete and return the pre-negotiations surveys recently sent to home addresses. Although the results of the surveys were still being compiled at press time, the high level of member participation was notable…
New BOD and Steward Appointments
At the March 16th SLOCEA Board of Directors meeting, the Board appointed Rosario Depew to the Board of Directors, seat #6 and Garrett Frice to the Steward Committee…