President's Message by Robert A. Kaczmarek - President
This year the BCEA Negotiations Team has been working on a new 2005-2006 MOU. The team has compiled data from your member negotiations surveys and used that information to develop our proposal. The proposal includes increases in salary, benefits, and retirement issues. We have met with the City a number of times so far, and have more meetings scheduled. The pace of negotiations is slow, but with steady progress being made. A salary survey of our benchmark positions is underway. We are currently waiting on the City's cost analysis of our package. We will be discussing negotiations at the Membership meeting.
The BCEA's other subjects of negotiations, the Retirement, & Retiree Medical Coalition (BCEA, IBEW, & BMA), have had several meetings about better pensions, and future trust contributions. From these meetings the coalition made one proposal to the City. We are also developing a second proposal to present to the City soon. While some of our comparision cities have improved pensions, six out of ten are not market standard, so we have our work cut out for us.
Annual Picnic Donors
I would like to express my appreciation to the many companies that donated gifts for our Annual Picnic. Please remember to partonize these genrous businesses. Here is the complete list:
Health Fair 2005
The Health Fair will be held Thursday, September 15th at the Buena Vista Library Auditorium. Representatives from PEBT, Pacific Union Dental, Burbank City Credit Union, Supplemental Insurance, and others will be present. The 2006 insurance rates have been announced for CalPERS and PEBT. The average premium increases were 8% for CalPERS and 5% for PEBT.
| HMO Plans | Single | 2-Party | Family |
| Health Net - HMO | 306.00 | 610.00 | 908.00 |
| Health Net - Salud | 255.00 | 495.00 | 725.00 |
| Kaiser - HMO | 294.00 | 589.00 | 780.00 |
| PacifiCare | 297.00 | 602.00 | 810.00 |
| Universal | 272.00 | 530.00 | 911.00 |
| PPO Plan | Single | 2-Party | Family |
| Health Net PPO | 369.00 | 745.00 | 1,183.00 |
Congratulations to John Beiter 1st VP and Sean Hagen Executive Board Member on their new promotions. John took a Power Plant Trainee job at BWP. Sean is moving to a new Supervisor position in Apple Valley. We will miss the hard work and time the both have given to the BCEA. Good luck John and Sean, we wish you the best. In the wake of these vacancies the Executive Board has appointed Executive Board Member and former 1st Vice President Mike Castro to the vacant 1st Vice President position for the remainder of this year's term. In the two vacant Executive Board positions the Board has appointed the next two vote getters for Executive Board in last year's election, Charles Henry and Debbie Beiter for the remainder of this year's term. The Board reviewed the process with AFSCME's Legal Council before the appointments were made. Congratulations and welcome aboard.
November Special Election
This November 8th election is the special election that the Governor is calling to strike out at public employees and public employee unions. he had put a target on our backs and is trying to take any power he can from working people. This special election will cost California taxpayers $80 million. Our State could spend $80 million on teachers, textbooks, roads, or nurses. Prop 74 teaching, tenure, Prop 75 union dues, Prop 76 state and school funding limits, and Prop 77 redistricting; all target public employees, teachers and the State budget to put more power in the Governor's hands. The corporate spec8ial interests have helped Arnold raise $26 million in campaign contributions - more than any Governor in history. We will keep ypou up to date on these developments. Please make sure you are registered to vote.
Scholarship Application Time
AFSCME and Union Plus have various scholarships available to union members and their families. For AFSCME scholarships the BCEA office has some applications. For any of the other scholarships go to: AFSCME.org, AFSCME.org/about/scholarf06.pdf, and Unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships.
AFSCME Advantage
AFSCME and Union Plus work together to provide union member discounts. These benefits cover the range of credit cards, scholarshiops, mortgage, car, entertainment, internet, and music. We will have more information at the Health Fair or you can check the link below for more information. AFSCME.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 5:00pm Buena Vista Library Auditorium 300 North Buena Vista Ave.  Negotiations update
Special Election update |
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005 5:30pm Buena Vista Library Auditorium 300 North Buena Vista Ave. Nominations for the Offices of: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President/Chief Steward, Secretary Treasurer, Recording Secretary, 3 Member-at-Large positions, and 1 Trustee position. |