Comments on: County Employees Fight for First Raise Since 2008

By: Zuhp Aliser

Zuhp Aliser — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 04:50:13 +0000

Kermit, I believe in Unions but I have lost faith and respect for our Local 521 in Fresno.

The employees could care less about its membership and some of the elected officers are arrogant and belittling. The COPE Chair went on a social media site saying I was uneducated and lacked critical thinking skills. I contacted the director of our local when I was made aware of the post. He has never contacted me and the post was never taken down. How am I suppose to respect a union who allows this to happen. The little respect I had left for SEIU is destroyed. I don’t want them representing me and I don’t want them taking my money.

By: Kermit Wullschleger

Kermit Wullschleger — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:05:29 +0000

I like Tom’s idea about a ballot measure to help address the excessive executive compensation that has taken ahold of Tulare County government.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:43:28 +0000

The entire system is a joke. SEIU doesn’t even have an email address for the local chapter. The Board of Supervisors act as if they are above it all. I have a simple solution. Have SEIU use their lawyers to write and submit a ballot measure in Tulare County that has these simple provisions.
1. The Board of Supervisors shall be paid no more than the average salary of the working citizens of Tulare County.
2. The Board of Supervisors will not receive any expenses, perks or additional compensation in any form including retirement other than any other county employee.
3. The Board of Supervisors shall not have the power change this law without a majority vote of the citizens of this county.

Well there you have it SEIU. Do you want to support the working class of this county or do you want to play the hush hush let’s make a deal with the board?

By: Kermit Wullschleger

Kermit Wullschleger — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 16:03:32 +0000

We have to be careful not to make a generalization about SEIU. The folks that we have now that are working with Tulare County to help get the 3400 hundreds workers a equity adjustment after six (6) going on seven (7) years are dedicated, hardworking employees. I’m not disagreeing with Zuhp and Debi above. I’m not trying to minimize what happened to them. I’m just saying that we have some real dedicated hardworking employees from SEIU, including Jo Ann Salazar and Courtney Hawkins that are giving their heart and soul to help the workers from Tulare County receive a COLA. We have no advocates in Tulare County Government at the present time. We do appreciate the help and support from the community of Tulare County. “We the People”, are working for you to make Tulare County a better place to live, work and worship.

By: Debbi Smith

Debbi Smith — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 04:25:58 +0000

In reply to Zuhp Aliser.

Zuhp is right. SEIU leadership talks loud, but leaders have no real “skin in the game”. While SEIU organizers are well paid for THEIR time; striking workers receive no such guarantee. And SEIU’s calls for fair pay ring hollow in the ears of state prison teachers–represented by–SEIU, who now earn @10,000 less per year, than their equally employed peers. SEIU’s unprincipled “representation” has COST them thousands of dollars (over the past six years)in income, retirement security, and contributions to the health of their economic communities.

By: Zuhp Aliser

Zuhp Aliser — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 03:34:07 +0000

DON’T STRIKE! IT’S NOT WORTH IT TULARE COUNTY!!!! Fresno County went on strike. We not only lost a weeks worth of pay, we lost our homes, our cars and are just catching up on bills 3 years later. What happened to our contract? WE STILL DON’T HAVE ONE! Don’t let SEIU convince you to go on strike. SEIU won’t lose money my frineds, they’ll receive OT and bonuses while your check shrinks. Do you know how much one of our co-workers received from the strike fund? $35 to help cover $900 in rent and a $300 car payment.

By: James

James — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 04:36:00 +0000

The employee evaluations are a joke! I have also received the same speech that no one can get above a 5 or 6 unless supporting documentation and proof is submitted. Management in our office is unwilling to do so. Some of our board members believe that we are ignorant folk, so not true! Our county employees deserve better! They only way I can fathom getting a COLA is by going to work for another county or trying to get promoted! I do applaud the two supervisors for not accepting raises during the Great Recession. I think it was the noble thing to do. Now it is time to honor the county employees with a fair contract!

By: Jim Reeves

Jim Reeves — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:51:22 +0000

The BOS doesn’t seem to care that Tulare County incurs all the costs and effort to train people for other agencies, in that new hires work long enough to get trained and have a year’s experience under their belts, then leave for better paying jobs elsewhere. There’s a revolving door in many departments, and it’s very true in the 9-1-1 dispatch center that I’ve worked in for 20 years. We’ve been chronically understaffed for years, the turnover rate is high, and service to the public suffers. From longer times to answer 9-1-1 calls, to fatigue, it’s always a challenge to maintain an acceptable level of response to the public and our officers. To be refused a raise, after the Board has given themselves and upper management sizable increases, is both insulting and unconscionable. The county seems to think the people who actually do the work are nothing more than ‘trained monkeys’ who can be replaced at the drop of a hat. Do the right thing, BOS, and give the workers at least the same thing you gave yourselves.