President's Message by Robert A. Kaczmarek - President
It is a strange time - the California Recall is the topic of local and national news; our City has struggled with a $9 million dollar budget deficit, and we had to cut 45 positions out of our budget this year to close that budget gap.
The two Republican candidates in the Recall want to abolish the Vehicle License Fee, but have NO plans to save local government services funded by those fees. The VLF increase was triggered because a backfill to local governments from the State was cut out of the State budget. Those fees, whether from VLF or backfill, are a major source of OUR City's revenue to fund Safety, Parks, and Libraries. YOUR vote will have a direct effect on YOUR JOB in Burbank and local government jobs around the State. When the candidates say they want to cut government, they're pointing the cannon at you - John Q. City Employee. I personally don't like being the Target of anti-worker republican candidates. A point to ponder - how does laying off Government employees add up to job creation? That's doesn't make any sense to me.
Please remember which Governor signed AB 616 3% @ 60 pension, SB 1464 CalPERS retiree and medical contribution increase, SB 40 unemployment benefits extension for people displaced by 9-11, and PERB Board appeal rights for local government employees. These are only a few of the laws that we as workers have benefited from. It wasn't Pete Wilson. Gray Davis signed those bills that benefited you as workers.
Health Insurance News
CalPERS and PEBT open enrollment is October 1, 2003 thru October 31, 2003. If you are enrolled in a CalPERS health plan you should be receiving a mailer with your current plan and next year's premium cost.
The BCEA PEBT is adding a Vision Plan from MES Rates for January 1, 2004 as follows:
| Blue Shield Access + HMO | $270 1 Party $555 2 Party $790 3 Party |
| Health Net HMO | $252 1 Party $500 2 Party $745 3 Party |
| Kaiser | $247 1 Party $470 2 Party $655 3 Party |
| PacifiCare HMO | $270 1 Party $555 2 Party $790 3 Party |
| Universal Care | $235 1 Party $465 2 Party $815 3 Party |
| Health Net PPO Low | $340 1 Party |
| 80% preferred | $655 2 Party |
| 60% non preferred | $935 3 Party |
| MES Vision | $9.00 Party |
| 12/12/12 plan | $18.00 2 Party $23.00 3 Party |
This year Pac Union Dental prepaid rates are unchanged and PPO rates are being quoted. The PPO plan now has a $1,500 benefit with lower co-pays plus orthodontic benefits.
LA LABOR FED
NEEDS YOU!
The recall election is going to cost the state up to $68 million at a time when we're cutting education, health care and law enforcement just to balance the budget.
The next governor could be elected with less than 15% of the vote and get rid of daily overtime, prevailing wage, paid family leave, job safety, and health care protections. We must STOP the recall!
Thursday September 25, 2003
5:30pm
Buena Vista Library Meeting Room
300 N. Buena Vista St.
Negotiations Update
Open Enrollment PEBT & PERS Update
STOP the RECALL
3%@60 Pension Negotiation
Health Fair
Attendance Drawing
AFSCME FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Once again AFSCME is offering the Family Scholarship for graduating high school seniors. The senior must be a child, or financially dependent grandchild of an AFSCME member. Under the program, 10 scholarships of $2,000 each are awarded annually to the winners selected from eligible applicants. Applications must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2003. You can get information and the applications online at http://www.afscme.org/about/greenrm.htm
UNION PLUS CREDIT CARD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship is also available for members, spouses, and dependent children. Applications are also available at the same website listed above or at the BCEA Office, and are due January 31, 2004.
The AFSCME scholarships page also has information on other scholarship, and school information resources at the link listed above.
NEGOTIATIONS SALARY SURVEY
Negotiations with the City began in March of this year. We started discussing a new salary survey and its methodology. Most of the survey details have been worked out and we hope to complete the survey soon. Other discussions about changes in the MOU have been on going. We should have more to update with at the meeting on September 25, 2003. The City did budget for raises this year. So there is money on the table now.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BCEA MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Date: Thursday September 25, 2003
Place: Buena Vista Library Meeting Room
Time: 5:30pm
ELECTION DAY
Date: Tuesday October 7, 2003
PLEASE VOTE ABSENTEE OR IN PERSON
BCEA PEBT HEALTH FAIR
Date: Tuesday October 14, 2003
Place: Buena Vista Library Meeting Room
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm & 1:00pm to 4:00pm
BCEA NOMINATIONS & MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Date: Thursday October 30, 2003
Place: Buena Vista Library Meeting Room
Time: 5:30pm
VETERAN'S DAY
Date: Tuesday November 11, 2003
BCEA AND CITY OFFICES CLOSED
THANKSGIVING DAY
Date: Thursday November 27, 2003
BCEA AND CITY OFFICES CLOSED
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY
Date: Friday November 28, 2003
BCEA AND CITY OFFICES CLOSED