Worker Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Training at Sonoma

Chapter 304 (Sonoma) is co-sponsoring a free Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist Training this summer. Here are the details from the announcement:

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Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist Training

August 8, 15, 22 (3 Saturdays)
8:30am - 5pm - Sonoma State University
Salazar Hall, Room 2016, 2nd Fl.

To register contact
Linda Lee
Program Assistant
Email lzlee@berkeley.edu
Ph (510) 642-5507

For more information contact
Valeria Velazquez
Program Coordinator / Faculty
Email vvelazquez@berkeley.edu
Ph (510) 643-2090

A free 24-hour course at Sonoma State University, where you will learn key occupational safety and health concepts. Learn how to take a leadership role in the workplace. The curriculum includes core modules addressing topics relevant to workers in a variety of California workplaces, as well as a series of supplemental modules covering specific topics and hazards.

Specialists also take three of the following supplemental topics to complete the WOSH Specialist Course. The supplemental topics are:

• Communicating Effectively About Workplace Health and Safety
• Chemical Hazards and Hazard Communication
• Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders: Introduction to Ergonomics
• Workplace Health and Safety Committees
• How Adults Learn Best: Sharing Health and Safety Information in the Workplace
• Bloodborne Pathogens

Workers of all industries welcome!

In 2007, 15,428 California workers were reported injured on the job... 14,892 in 2007. Workplace Injury costs the State and Employers Millions of Dollars, and unquantifiable social and personal losses. By working together we can educate each other, to prevent injury and help victims rehabilitate and return to work.

(WOSH) Specialists will take leadership roles in promoting health and safety in their workplaces.

Jointly Sponsored by the Following Organizations:

• Labor Occupational Health & Safety Program (LOHP)
• Sonoma State University, Extended Education
• North-Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Sonoma Lake & Mendocino Counties Building & Construction Trades
• California State University Employees Union (CSUEU), Chapter 304

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LOHP is based at UC Berkeley and describes itself as a community outreach program addressing today's health and safety needs in nearly every industry, from healthcare to agriculture to construction.

Links:

• Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist Training announcement (on BADP)
• Worker Occupational Safety and Health (WOSH) Specialist Training announcement (on Indybay)
• Labor Occupational Health & Safety Program (LOHP)
  • Union Health and Safety Skills
• CSUEU Chapter 304 (Sonoma)

Proposition 1A: Really Bad Idea

Both the California Faculty Association (CFA) and CSUEU are publicizing the problems with Proposition 1A. (If you've already read this week's CFA Headlines and CSUEU E-News, you've seen most of this.)

The CSU Board of Trustees voted to support Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E at the March 2009 Trustees meeting.

The last day to register to vote in the May 19, 2009 Special Election is May 4. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is May 12.

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From this week's CFA Headlines:

PROP 1A IS MISLEADING AND POORLY WRITTEN; READ IT FOR YOURSELF

This week, CFA continues its effort to raise awareness about the upcoming special election and the potentially devastating effect Proposition 1A could have on the CSU.

Not only is this measure bad for the CSU, said CFA President Lillian Taiz. But it is so poorly written and filled with such complex formulas and convoluted language that it is impossible to know its full consequences if passed.

I strongly urge everyone to read the text of 1A before deciding how to vote.

You can read Proposition 1A at: http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/

To learn more about Prop 1, go to: http://www.calfac.org/ballot.html

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From today's CSUEU E-News:

Be Sure to Vote on May 19!

CSUEU is joining forces with SEIU leadership, the California Faculty Association and a variety of other concerned groups to get out the vote for the special election on May 19. It's important for all CSUEU members to take part in this crucial election and to vote against Proposition 1A.

If passed, Prop. 1A will impose a spending cap on the state's general fund, which is destined to wreak havoc with the CSU budget for many years to come.

When the state legislature finally adopted a two-year state budget in February, it placed seven propositions on upcoming ballots, including six for the May 19 special election and one for the June, 2010, primary ballot. Only five of the seven measures are budget-related, with the remaining two related to legislative pay and primary elections. Of the five budget-related propositions, CSUEU members should be especially concerned about 1A , which:

• Creates a rainy day fund, called the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF), that will ultimately become a slush fund that would allow unlimited borrowing
• Requires that three percent of annual general fund revenue be diverted from the budget and deposited into the BSF until the BSF balance equals 12.5 percent of General Fund revenues--even in a year like this, when we are in the depths of a recession, with state revenues falling
• Gives the governor extraordinary unilateral power over the budget. The director of finance, a political appointee of the governor, makes all the critical decisions, determining when revenues are excessive and can be diverted into the rainy day fund, with no checks and balances from the legislature
• Gives the governor more power to make unilateral cuts to the budget after it is signed into law, again with no oversight by the legislature (through a corollary law that kicks in if 1A passes)

During the budget process, CSUEU opposed the budget cap, which the governor and legislature hastily drew up with little review. If approved by voters, 1A's budget cap provision will divert billions of our tax dollars away from our schools, colleges, home care, and healthcare, even in bad years. As a result, our schools, healthcare, and other vital public services will face even deeper cuts in the future and will never recover from this downturn.

Read Proposition 1A.

Read SEIU's analysis of the budget and of each of the propositions. [Unit 9 Editor's note: this is a link to a Word document.]

Read the California Budget Project's analysis of this controversial initiative. [Unit 9 Editor's note: this is a link to a PDF document.]

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Links:

• Voter Information Guide (California Secretary of State)
  • Proposition 1A summary
  • Proposition 1A Quick Reference Guide
  • Text of Proposition 1A [PDF]
• Voter Registration Information (California Secretary of State)
• CSUEU E-News
  • Proposition 1A article: Don't Forget to Vote!
• CFA Headlines
  • April 14, 2009 CFA Headlines [PDF]
• March 2009 CSU Board of Trustees resolutions [PDF]

GC Delegate Letter

Sent out Tuesday from California State Employees Association (CSEA) headquarters:

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From: CSEA President Dave Hart
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 2:39 PM
To: [a delegate candidate]
Subject: Preparations for 2009 CSEA General Council

CSEA prepares for 2009 General Council

April 10, 2009

Preparations for the 2009 CSEA General Council are moving forward. Delegates elections are under way. CSEA and affiliate leaders and staff are working together to structure a productive and enjoyable meeting over Labor Day weekend.

The heart of General Council will be an exercise in Designing Our Future, giving delegates the opportunity to determine the future of their affiliate, share that perspective with other affiliates, and determine what they need from CSEA. It's an occasion for us to review implementation of the new directions set by the 2007 General Council delegates. We'll adopt a three-year budget and consider resolutions on general policy issues.

We will also consider proposed CSEA Bylaw revisions, drafted by a hard-working Bylaws, Policies and Procedures (B&P) Committee. It is my intent that these proposals will be available on our website for review, and for discussion by newly-elected delegates, long before GC meets. We need to take advantage of technology to encourage greater participation in Association governance.

Some of the proposed changes will deal with housekeeping and other proposals will reflect existing practices. We'll also look at new language reflecting the changes made by the 2007 delegates regarding affiliate autonomy, independent political action, and the new role of central support.

It's not too early for delegates, potential delegates or members, to start educating yourselves on these issues. For example:

Attend the next meeting of the Bylaws and Policy File Committee or the next CSEA Board of Directors meeting where you can hear discussions of these issues. Check the CSEA website calendar for time and location.

Read B&P 8/07 - the group of resolutions passed at GC in 2007 setting in motion all the changes we've made in central support over the last two years. It's available the CSEA website.

Keep track of some dates:

• June 8 - Deadline for signed statement of intent to to run for statewide office.
• July 6 - Proposed Bylaw changes in resolution form to be posted on CSEA website.
• July 7 - Proposed CSEA central support budget mailed to all delegates.
• August 15 - Proposed Bylaw changes mailed to delegates.

We'll send you additional updates as preparations continue. Every member and every delegate will have the information they need to make their voice count. That's how we can make sure that GC serves its purpose, helping CSEA affiliates become stronger as they go about the business of representing their members.

In Unity,
Dave Hart, President

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CSUEU is part of CSEA, and CSUEU chapters will have seats at the CSEA General Council (GC). Each chapter elects its own GC delegates and alternates. Ballots for GC delegates were scheduled to be mailed today from headquarters. The number of delegates your chapter has depends on how many members your chapter has.

General Council takes place September 5-7, 2009, in Los Angeles.

Links:

• CSEA General Council 2009
• CSEA Bylaws and Policy File [PDF]
• CSEA
• Inside CSUEU (good for election information)

Chris Graeber Leaving CSUEU

Sent out from headquarters earlier this week:

Hello CSUEU Board of Directors and Staff:

It is with regret that I inform you that Chris Graeber has decided to resign from the CSUEU. He has found a permanent position with another labor organization and we wish him well. We will be posting the vacancy within 24 hours.

In union,

Phillip Coonley, Chief of Staff
California State University Employees Union (CSUEU)

A follow-up message stated Graeber intends to remain in his position until May 1.

New LRR for Humboldt

Staff announcement this evening from headquarters:

From: "Coonley, Phillip"
To: Undisclosed recipients: ;
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:01:11 -0700
Subject: Welcome new employee

TO: CSUEU BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF:

Please join me in welcoming our newest Labor Relations Representative, Mark Greenleaf. Mark comes to us with extensive knowledge and experience, which includes stints providing our members representation at San Jose State University and Humboldt. He will be taking over for Anda at Humboldt.

In union,

Phillip Coonley, Chief of Staff
California State University Employees Union (CSUEU)