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About six weeks ago, I posted a thread entitled, "Boy, that was certainly an interesting day." It was about how I suddenly became President of my local at the court, and two hours later I found out that court management had scheduled half my membership for termination when they reached their second year anniversary. So here's the update.
We found a clause in our union contract which protected everyone hired before July 25, 2001. Management had to acknowledge it, and that saved three people's jobs. The next people aren't scheduled for termination until next September, which gives me some maneuvering room.
I filed a grievance on behalf of the remaining people. Usually, a grievance is 1/4 to 1/2 page long. Mine, for a variety of reasons, was 7 pages long, plus exhibits.
Soon after that, another management atrocity. The court claimed poverty and announced it would be closing down for a total of eight days over a three month period so it didn't have to pay its workers.
Me and some other union members...er..."gained access" to the court's warehouses, where we found over $ 2 million dollars worth of computer equipment. And there was another $1.2 million-worth of newly ordered computers on the way. I took pictures while others did an inventory, and we sent the info to our lobbist in Sacramento.
The next thing we know, the State Senate and the Chief Justice are involved. The Chief Justice threatens to take over L.A. courts if they close down. Finally, Sacramento coughs up $ 3 million to pay for an unexpected pension bill to the LA courts from L.A. county, and L.A. courts agree to cancel most of the newly ordered computers--and best of all, the courts stay open.
Some of us fly up to San Francisco to meet with the AOC--the Adminstrative Office of the Court--headed by the Chief Justice. We thank him for his efforts and discuss an idea that both we and he have independently come up with. Because the courts have to pass along to the State all fees and fines they collect, there's no real effort to do so. The CJ estimates that $100 million per year goes uncollected. Our lobbyist meets with some Senators, and there's now a bill going through the Leglislature to give the courts a cut of everything they collect.
Later, one of my members tells me of a $50 million court construction fund. True, by law, it can only be used for construction of new court facilities. But that's why God created lobbyists. We have our lobbyist contact the Legislature. I mean, what politician is going to say, "No, we want you to build court houses even though you can't afford to keep them open." There's now a bill which permits the court to tap into that money to balance its budget.
I met with court counsel to explain our grievance. He starts off the meeting with confidence...but as I go through my arguments, he's turning grayer and grayer and grayer. I give him my person word that if it's a matter of money, the union will get the court the money it needs to pay my people for their raises and benefits. He says he'll get back to me in writing within 10 days.
Last weekend, I flew up to Sacramento for our union's annual P.E.O.P.L.E. conference. We're addressed by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Speaker of the Assembly, and various State Senators and Assembly persons. I yam impressed. On Monday, we go to the officers of various legislators urging them to vote for our bills dealing with court fees, and the construction fund. They are very responsive.
Upon returning from Sacramento, I don't find the written response to our grievance that I was expecting. I e-mail court counsel to ask what's up. He asks for an extension until next Friday. I know that if I push him, he simply deny it--and I figure something's up. I find out that the heard of the Senate Judiciary Committee--who is very pro-union--is meeting with top court managment. Coincidence?? I think not. I bet she'll be pushing the court on this issue. So, I grant the extension to let the good Senator work her magic.
Everyone, keep your fingers crossed.
We found a clause in our union contract which protected everyone hired before July 25, 2001. Management had to acknowledge it, and that saved three people's jobs. The next people aren't scheduled for termination until next September, which gives me some maneuvering room.
I filed a grievance on behalf of the remaining people. Usually, a grievance is 1/4 to 1/2 page long. Mine, for a variety of reasons, was 7 pages long, plus exhibits.
Soon after that, another management atrocity. The court claimed poverty and announced it would be closing down for a total of eight days over a three month period so it didn't have to pay its workers.
Me and some other union members...er..."gained access" to the court's warehouses, where we found over $ 2 million dollars worth of computer equipment. And there was another $1.2 million-worth of newly ordered computers on the way. I took pictures while others did an inventory, and we sent the info to our lobbist in Sacramento.
The next thing we know, the State Senate and the Chief Justice are involved. The Chief Justice threatens to take over L.A. courts if they close down. Finally, Sacramento coughs up $ 3 million to pay for an unexpected pension bill to the LA courts from L.A. county, and L.A. courts agree to cancel most of the newly ordered computers--and best of all, the courts stay open.
Some of us fly up to San Francisco to meet with the AOC--the Adminstrative Office of the Court--headed by the Chief Justice. We thank him for his efforts and discuss an idea that both we and he have independently come up with. Because the courts have to pass along to the State all fees and fines they collect, there's no real effort to do so. The CJ estimates that $100 million per year goes uncollected. Our lobbyist meets with some Senators, and there's now a bill going through the Leglislature to give the courts a cut of everything they collect.
Later, one of my members tells me of a $50 million court construction fund. True, by law, it can only be used for construction of new court facilities. But that's why God created lobbyists. We have our lobbyist contact the Legislature. I mean, what politician is going to say, "No, we want you to build court houses even though you can't afford to keep them open." There's now a bill which permits the court to tap into that money to balance its budget.
I met with court counsel to explain our grievance. He starts off the meeting with confidence...but as I go through my arguments, he's turning grayer and grayer and grayer. I give him my person word that if it's a matter of money, the union will get the court the money it needs to pay my people for their raises and benefits. He says he'll get back to me in writing within 10 days.
Last weekend, I flew up to Sacramento for our union's annual P.E.O.P.L.E. conference. We're addressed by the Governor, the Attorney General, the Speaker of the Assembly, and various State Senators and Assembly persons. I yam impressed. On Monday, we go to the officers of various legislators urging them to vote for our bills dealing with court fees, and the construction fund. They are very responsive.
Upon returning from Sacramento, I don't find the written response to our grievance that I was expecting. I e-mail court counsel to ask what's up. He asks for an extension until next Friday. I know that if I push him, he simply deny it--and I figure something's up. I find out that the heard of the Senate Judiciary Committee--who is very pro-union--is meeting with top court managment. Coincidence?? I think not. I bet she'll be pushing the court on this issue. So, I grant the extension to let the good Senator work her magic.
Everyone, keep your fingers crossed.
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