« Green Path North Info Meeting in DHS | Main | Andrew Sullivan on Blogging »

December 8, 2008

Labor Issues at CVMVCD

A press release from the California School Employees Association union at the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District:

PRESS RELEASE

TENUOUS LABOR SITUATION AT BUG DISTRICT (CVMVCD) GROWS MUCH WORSE

VECTOR EMPLOYEES BEGIN PROTEST AT 6 A.M. DECEMBER 9th, WHICH CONTINUES THAT EVENING AT THE BUG BOARD MEETING FROM 4:30 - 6 P.M.

CVMVCD PROPOSES TO CUT VECTOR CONTROL WORKERS' SALARIES $500-800 PER MONTH. THE ILLEGAL TERMINATION OF A VECTOR CONTROL WORKER ADDS TO GROWING TENSION AT DISTRICT – Union Files Multiple Unfair Labor Practice Cases Against District with the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).

  • For the past ten years, the District has paid its managers some of the highest wages among vector control districts in the state, while paying "Boots on the Ground" workers among the lowest wages in the state. Despite the low wages, understaffing, and long history of mismanagement under Don Gomsi, the "Boots on the Ground" Workers showed great loyalty to the District by keeping a high standard of excellence throughout the management and Board crisis.
  • THE DISTRICT RESPONDED TO THE WORKERS' LOYALTY WITH SALARY PROPOSALS TO CUT VECTOR CONTROL WORKERS' PAY BY $500-$800 P/MO.
  • The District's 12-3-08 Salary Proposal seeks to keep the field staff among the lowest paid in the state. Meanwhile, the CVMVCD's management salaries remain among highest in California.
  • Only 15% of the District's total budget goes to the "Boots on the Ground" workers, which account for approx. 50% of the total employees at the District. Much of the other 85% goes towards the most bloated and wasteful vector control administrations in California. There is one manager to every four workers at CVMVCD. This 1 to 4 ratio is the highest, by far, in the state.
  • The District spent $75,000 for a month's legal fees, instead of on staffing and salaries for the "Boots on the Ground" workers who actually serve the community.
  • PROTESTERS WILL ALSO FOCUS ON SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS THAT THE BUG DISTRICT CONTINUES TO VIOLATE THE LAW IN DEALINGS WITH EMPLOYEES.

District Workers will be available to Interview as follows:
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Time: 6 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. and again from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: 43-420 Trader Place, Indio

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dale Wissman
Labor Relations Representative
California School Employees Association
(760) 564-1141 office
(760) 799-8670 cell
(760) 564-2241 fax

Filed under Coachella Valley | permalink | December 8, 2008 at 08:25 PM

Comments

The Desert Sun's report on this morning's informational picket line.

Posted by: Ron's Log at Dec 9, 2008 10:25:57 AM

The comments to this entry are closed.