Advocacy in Action: More than a Mission Statement
At the beginning of every meeting of SLOCEA’s Board of Directors, the Association’s Mission Statement is read aloud by one of our directors:
“The mission of the San Luis Obispo County Employees’ Association is to advocate for fair compensation, safe working conditions, affordable healthcare, and a secure retirement for our members, who provide vital services to the public.”
However, a large component in SLOCEA’s role as your union is not mentioned in the mission statement. That missing element is the scope of representation and refers to all matters relating to employment conditions and the employer-employee relationship.
SLOCEA’s primary objective regarding representation is to ensure the fair treatment of our members. We safeguard members’ rights in accordance with their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU/Contract), the rules of the Civil Service Commission, policies, County Code and state and federal laws. Additionally, many aspects of our representational work also include consultation, advice, and support regarding interpersonal matters and workplace issues.
The past few months have seen a considerable jump in the number of members seeking SLOCEA’s assistance. Below are some of the areas that members can reach out to SLOCEA for advice, consult and representation:
Members needing assistance navigating interpersonal matters they may be having with co-workers, supervisors or managers.
Representation during the interactive process with regard to accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act for a temporary disability.
Investigatory interviews are a scary process for anyone and members have Weingarten Rights to request representation from SLOCEA during the interview.
Appeals of formal disciplinary actions are time sensitive. If you are served with a Notice of Intent to impose a formal disciplinary action you need to contact SLOCEA immediately.
Grievances for actions taken against the employee that violates their rights or the misapplication of policy, rules, MOUs, state law, or practices. SLOCEA can assist you in this process.
Enforcement of your MOU when your employer does not properly apply the terms and conditions of the contract.
SLOCEA works with each member to come to a resolution that upholds the rights and dignity of the affected employees. So, while SLOCEA’s mission statement identifies many key areas of importance, the scope of SLOCEA’s representation extends well beyond this statement.
By Theresa Schultz, Senior Labor Representative
