News

Region 1 Representative and Region 4 Representative Elections

 

Elected by Acclamation (unopposed)

Region 4 Board Representative - Claudia Morales

Nominees for Region 1 Representative

Begonya De Salvo

Roberto Villalta

The Ballots will go out by regular mail on February 16, 2022 and the Ballot count will take place on March 26, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.
 

WE WON! 

 
Hello Colleagues, 
 
It’s time for some good news!  After a lengthy fierce fight against Orange Superior Court for their wrongful unilateral implementation of furloughs, CFI is happy to announce that we have prevailed! WE WON THE ULP FURLOUGH CASE AGAINST ORANGE COUNTY COURT!
 
The Decision

  1. The Orange County Court MUST CEASE AND DESIST from
a.  Failing and refusing to meet and confer in good faith with the Union over implementing furloughs.
b.  Interfering with interpreter employee’s rights to be represented by the Union on all matters of employer-employee relations.
c.  Denying the Union its right to represent interpreter employees in their employment relations with the Court.
d.  Creating non-uniform terms and conditions of employment regarding the hours of work of interpreter employees throughout Trial Court Region 4 in the absence of a MOU or agreement with the Union that provides for such non-uniformity.
2. The Orange County Court MUST take the following affirmative actions:
a.  Give the Union notice and an opportunity to meet and confer in good faith over any future decision to implement mandatory furloughs for interpreters.
b.  Within 10 workdays of the service of a final decision (after the appeal period) in this matter, rescind the mandatory furloughs
c.  Within 30 workdays of the service of a final decision in the matter, make affected interpreter employees whole, including but not limited to paying them backpay equal to the amount they lost as a result of the implementation of the mandatory furloughs, plus 7% interest.
d.  Within 10 workdays of the final decision, post at all work locations and website/email a notice of this decision.
e.  Report in writing to PERB and General Counsel’s designee that the Court has complied with this order.
The Court has the right to file an appeal. The OC Court has 20 days from this decision to file. If the OC Court appeals, CFI intends to keep fighting. 
 
Great leaders don’t set out to stand out and flaunt their leadership skills. They set out to make a difference. Thank you Lou Lou Tovar and Frances Marino (OC colleagues) for making this happen. Your self initiative to spring to action made the difference. Your hard work did not go unnoticed. Your fearlessness motivates. Both or you make our Union strong!
 
We will continue to fight tirelessly behind the scenes for the benefit and respect that our members and our profession deserves. We are all part of the fight. We are the Union. It’s time we all take hold of the empowerment and make a difference. 
 
In Solidarity, 
 
Michael Ferreira, President
Carmen Ramos, Secretary-Treasurer
Janet Hudec, VP

 

 
 

Region 4 Bargaining Team Member Roster is Finalized

This is formally to announce that bargaining team member Alejandro González from Riverside has unfortunately resigned from the team yesterday. As there are two nominees for the now two open positions, Jimmie Villagrán (Orange) and Silvia San Martín (San Diego) are elected by acclamation into the open slots. We now have a complete team of five persons to go forward with Region 4 bargaining. I´d like to take the opportunity to welcome our two new members to the team and reiterate that this local will support the team’s efforts to get the best contract to present to the Region 4 membership for their approval. 

In unity,

Michael Ferreira
President
 

Candidates' Statements - Region 4 Bargaining Committee 

Silvia San Martin

In a region such as Region 4 where all five counties can be represented, all counties should be. I am running because San Diego is the only one that as of now does not have a seat.  I am running because I participated in the last round of negotiations and that knowledge and experience needs to be an integral part of the conversations. I am running because I am an active steward with an excellent record and a powerful voice, and more than anything else, I am running because of my love to our profession. 

Jimmy Villagran

My name is Jimmy Villagran and I have been a court interpreter for 19 years. I started with the courts when we were still independent contractors, so I’m quite aware that we have always been seen as the low man on the totem pole, treated as the court’s ugly step children. 
I know as well that the small gains we have achieved, have been the result of the blood, sweat and tears of many who came before me. We have seen highs and lows, and starting with this next round of negotiations, I will do my best so that we move in one direction: UP.
I’m currently in a place in life where I can dedicate the time and energy required to get the best contract possible. Our number one priority in Region 4 is a decent living wage now, and adequate increases in the future. As part of the bargaining committee, I will fight for the region as a whole: Orange County,  Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. I am not a politician. I’m not interested in who-said-or-did-what drama. My only job will be to help in negotiations for Region 4. 
There is power in unity. I believe that if we start creating division amongst ourselves, we stand no chance at making substantial changes at the table. It’s been proven time and again, a united front will get us the best possible results. I hope to count on your support.  
Thank you 
 

California supplemental paid sick leave coverage.

Calling all colleagues and union members!

As you are aware, many of you have had to use your own time when you have been exposed to COVID.  With the Omicron variant rapidly spreading, we are anticipating more and more people will need to take time off for themselves and/or their families.  Therefore, together with other labor unions, we are mobilizing to lobby Governor Newsom to reinstate the law mandating paid time off to anyone who needs to quarantine for Covid or assist a dependent when they are exposed.  

We are asking for everyone’s help in petitioning statewide leadership; the local is asking that each and every one of us contact the Governor and his staff using the information below.  To facilitate your participation in this endeavor we have prepared instructions and a message that you can simply copy and paste into the comments section on the Governor’s webpage.  

Share this with any other persons who wish to help reinstate the California supplemental paid sick leave coverage.  

In solidarity, 

Michael Ferreira
President

==============================

Instructions on how to Contact Governor Newsom

Go to:  https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/

Select "Have Comment"

Select “COVID-19” in “Please choose your subject:”

Select “Continue”; Select “Pro”

[You may write your own comment about the need for reinstating the California emergency paid sick leave for COVID related matters or use what is written below.]

California is presently experiencing a spike in the new highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19. As of January 13th, the California daily rate of new cases is 79,610 persons; the test positivity is 23% and still climbing. Although this variant may be milder than the Lambda and Delta versions, it has a level of contagious spread that will soon affect most, if not all of California’s citizens. The death rate is at a daily average of 46 souls. 

We are urging the Governor to reinstate the California supplemental COVID-19 paid leave benefits as soon as is practicable. The present strain of COVID is quickly creating rampant absenteeism that in the best scenarios is a week to ten days, and in the worst cases could be hospitalizations and being out of the workforce for upwards of a month. This is causing undue stress on families that are already under strain and suffering economic hardships. The more support given to working people now, the faster and easier it will be for them to return to providing the goods and services California needs.

For those of us who work in the court system, particularly those of us who provide language access, the high rate of absenteeism will negatively impact the citizenry’s ability to access justice. Justice delayed, is justice denied … reinstating the bank of California supplemental paid sick leave could be one of the many pieces that come together to form part of a solution to this COVID-19 crisis. Please reinstate the supplemental paid leave now!

 

 

 

 
 
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