HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07151997 - D7 D.7
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Date: July 15,1997 Matter of Record
SUBJECT: Public Comment
The following people spoke before the Board of Supervisors during Public
Comment:
Warren Smith, 400 Bailey Road, Pittsburg, commented on various
concerns relative to discrimination issues;
Henry Clarke, General Manager, Local One, P.O. Box 222, Martinez,
commented on personnel issues in the Family Support Division of the
District Attorney's Office;
Denny Larson, Communities for a Better Environment, 500 Howard
Street, #506, San Francisco, spoke on safety violations in the oil industry,
and requested the Board consider the CAL-OSHA report regarding the
January 21, 1997, Tosco incident.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION WAS TAKEN
b Z Contra Costa County Employees Association
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 222,Martinez,CA 94553 + Union Hall: 5034 Blum Road,Martinez
Phone: (510)228-1600 + Toll Free: 1-800-585-0054 . Fax: (510)228-1099
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July 15, 1997
TO: Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County
FROM: Henry L. Clarke, General Manager
Contra Costa County Employees Association,Local One
In 1989 under a different administration the Family Support Division of the District Attorney's
Office was rated as the most improved child support office in the United States. In 1997 under".`,"`
the present administration of this division the Family Support Division was'rated as either 65th or
66th in child support collections in the State of California.' 'This is what the District:Attorney ;
labelsas"brilliant management skills.
I believe this Board of Supervisors should admonish the District Attorney to be more considerate
of women employees, especially those who are single mothers. His response to the employees'
petition indicating no confidence in Mr. Yancey was appalling. He said that he had no problem in
penalizing these employees for being sick too much even if they are single mothers with a handful
of children. He commented, "Too bad. We want people who are working. ... people who
fail to perform, who don't show up, will continue to miss promotional opportunities. Let that be
a lesson to them." This smacks of a chauvinist, slanderous, demeaning attitude by the present
District Attorney. It should offend every woman in this County, especially those with children. I
would hope that this Board would reaffirm its commitment to the family as so eloquently spelled
out in Mr. Batchelor's book regarding the family.
Presently under our Memorandum of Understanding with the County each employee may earn up
to 96 hours of paid sick leave per year. Mr. Yancey and his administrator, who is Director of the
Family Support Division, contend that it is"abuse" of sick leave to use 70 hours per year of sick
leave, even though earned. Our union intends to appeal this violation of Local One's M.O.U.
clear through to arbitration, even though it seems so self evident that Mr. Yancey and his
administrator's policy regarding so called abuse will be overturned by any impartial arbitrator.
One abused employee has in fact been demoted twice because of what they consider"excessive"
THE UNION FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
ORGANOM 1941
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sick leave which she used to take care of her two children when they were too sick to be taken to
a child care center. This employee had a doctor's verification for every sick leave she took, had
prior approval by her immediate supervisor for every sick leave she took, and yet she has lost
thousands of dollars by twice being demoted because of her legitimate use of sick leave. How the
District Attorney and his administrator could take the position that these employees may not
legitimately use their sick leave is beyond me. I believe that their action actually is a slap in the
face to this Board of Supervisors, who have over the years continually approved our
Memorandum of Understanding and the right of our members as County employees to.earn up to
96 hours of paid sick leave per year. I believe this Board should somehow communicate not only
with the District Attorney, but with all department heads, that this Board stands by its agreement n;
with the employee unions. y :
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