CEA and your Board deliver a monthly newsletter keeping members
informed of recent news, benefits, etc.. The
June 2013 Newsletter covers
the
following:
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
What Toll Has the Recession Taken On Your Workplace?
CAN THEY FORCE ME TO DO SOMEONE ELSE'S JOB?
"No Better than Walmart?" Public Agencies Cut Employee Hours to Avoid Payment of Benefits
WELCOME NEW STAFF PERSON AT CEA!
LABOR RELATIONS UPDATE
Is PERS Really in Financial Trouble?
Questions and Answers: Your Rights On the Job
Overtime Pay for Eligible Employees Cannot be Denied
If you have any news related to MEA please send it to
contact@smmea.org.
Your hospital is leaving our network
Saint John's Hospital and Health Center is no longer part
of Aetna's network as of 09-29-2012
What this change means for you If you go to this
hospital after this date, you may pay more. As a result, your doctor may
send you to another hospital in our network.
Continuing your care If you are a patient at this
hospital, you may be able to continue your treatment for covered services.
This is called "transition of care coverage."
This is only possible if the hospital agrees to the terms in effect before
the hospital leaves the network. Coverage approval for the treatment must
still be in effect as well.
Before the date above, you or your doctor must fill out a Transition
Coverage Request form and send it to us. To get this form, call us at the
number on your Aetna ID card.
In case of emergency Go to the closest emergency room.
The visit will be covered, even if the hospital is not in our network.
We can help We are sorry for any problems this may
cause. If you have questions, call the number on your Aetna ID card.
Archives
MEA
Donates to Red Cross
MEA collected $71.50 at the general membership meeting as a donation to
the hurricane victims. The funds were donated to the Red Cross on behalf of
the MEA membership.
MEA
2012 Negotiation Survey
During the 2012 General Membership meeting in November, members were
asked to rate the importance of several bargaining issues.
On the 4th of July,
2010, President Martha Santana, Directors Angie Walton and April
Hansen joined the Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees in walking in the
Santa Monica 4th of July Parade. This parade is becoming an annual treat for the
community and was attended by the City Manager and City Council. The crowds
cheered on MEA and the Coalition as they walked the parade route and was
featured on several websites and even on the front page of the Daily Press! The
parade provided an excellent opportunity to get the name of MEA into the minds
and hearts of the Santa Monica residents.
MEA is taking a proactive approach to educating the community on bike theft
prevention. During the May 22nd iCycle Festival, MEA Board Directors:
Orvilette Echols, April Hansen, Sylvia Jimenez, and Art Lopez, as well as
Steward-Laura Johnson, and President Martha Santana volunteered to work the
event.
MEA co-sponsored by paying the $3.00 bike license for the first 50 people
who arrive to register their bikes. This shows the commitment that MEA has
to the community. Click here to see some pictures of the event.
According to Kevin Herra of SMDP, "In April, there were 39 reported bicycle
thefts compared to 30 the year before. Over the first four months of 2010, there
have been 136 bicycles reported stolen, a 13% increase compared to the same
period in 2009, said Santa Monica Police Department's Sgt. Jay Trisler.
The police department recommends bike riders purchase a durable "U-Lock" that
can be secured around a tire, the bicycle frame and a rack. Small chains and
more expensive "cable" locks have been easily cut, officers said.
The license is good for three years. The license number and information about
the bike will be shared with the SMPD so that officers can identify and return
the bike if it is found or someone is found riding it."
Bike@Work
The Bike@Work program
was launched June 2010. Eight City locations
have a variety of bikes for City employees' use to commute between City
offices. The Urban-X bike is made by KHS; it is a size Medium (which fits most
employees), and has size 26" wheels. The bikes are available at BBB; City
Hall; Civic Center; Finance; HED (Housing & Economic Development); OSE; Pier; &
Solid Waste.
Bike@Work encourages staff to bicycle between city facilities and to
nearby meetings on one of 8 specially branded city bikes. A collaborative effort
of staff in the Planning and Community Development and Office of Sustainability
and the Environment, the Bike@Work program supports LUCE Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) goals, bicycle awareness and environmental stewardship as well
as healthy habits among staff. Each bike comes fully equipped with safety
gear, reflective City logo signage, and an odometer to monitor usage and carbon
savings. The Bikes are financed by OSE (Office of Sustainability & the
Environment), and subsidized by TMD (Transportation Management).
City employees will need to sign a Liability Release form; take a self test;
and watch an on-line video before using the new City bikes.
1.1.
Million Signatures Submitted to Qualify Ballot Measure to Stop State Raids of
Local Government and Transportation Funds
Measure
Aimed for November 2010 Statewide Ballot Would Protect Funding for Local Public
Safety, Emergency Response, Transportation, Transit and Other Vital Local
Services
The
coalition of local government, transportation, business, public safety,
labor and public transit leaders announced on Thursday, April 29, that they were
submitting approximately 1.1 million signatures to county elections offices
throughout the state to qualify the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and
Transportation Protection Act of 2010 (AG
Initiative #: 09-0063) for the November ballot. The measure closes loopholes
to prevent the state from taking, diverting or borrowing local government,
transportation and public transit funds.
Thanks to all who assisted by obtaining signatures and spreading the word!
Keep an eye out for the upcoming informational advertisements and let's do what
we can to ensure this passes in November!
April 15th, 2010 was the official cut over date for MEA's outside representation from Adams, Ferrone, Ferrone to City Employees Associates (CEA).
CEA, based in Long Beach, California, provides labor relations services to employees associations in Southern California.
They represent employees covered by the collective bargaining law, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act. All of CEA's clients are public employees who belong to local, independent associations.
CEA will work with your Board to deliver a monthly newsletter keeping members
informed of recent news, benefits, etc..
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER…
This newsletter will be published monthly and distributed to Association
members, only. We will try to cover issues that are significant for our members,
as well as developments in employment law that may affect your job. If there’s a
particular topic which you’d like to see discussed please call or write our
staff person, Robin Nahin 562-433-6983 or
cea01@charter.net
She will be happy to print summaries of relevant laws or written answers to
your questions. This newsletter is intended to be YOUR VEHICLE for communicating
with staff, Board and co-workers.
Congratulations to one of our own, MEA member, Christopher Brian
Halvorson, who published his book, 'The Santa Suit: A Novel'. His novel
has been published by Black Rhino Press. Barnes & Noble has picked up
the title; and the Beverly Hills Hotel is selling the novel in its gift
store.
Click here for more.
Saint John's Hospital and Health Center is no longer part
of Aetna's network as of 09-29-2012
On the 4th of July,
2010, President Martha Santana, Directors Angie Walton and April
Hansen joined the Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees in walking in the
Santa Monica 4th of July Parade. This parade is becoming an annual treat for the
community and was attended by the City Manager and City Council. The crowds
cheered on MEA and the Coalition as they walked the parade route and was
featured on several websites and even on the front page of the Daily Press! The
parade provided an excellent opportunity to get the name of MEA into the minds
and hearts of the Santa Monica residents. 
MEA is taking a proactive approach to educating the community on bike theft
prevention. During the May 22nd iCycle Festival, MEA Board Directors:
Orvilette Echols, April Hansen, Sylvia Jimenez, and Art Lopez, as well as
Steward-Laura Johnson, and President Martha Santana volunteered to work the
event. 
The Bike@Work program
was launched June 2010. Eight City locations
have a variety of bikes for City employees' use to commute between City
offices. The Urban-X bike is made by KHS; it is a size Medium (which fits most
employees), and has size 26" wheels. The bikes are available at BBB; City
Hall; Civic Center; Finance; HED (Housing & Economic Development); OSE; Pier; &
Solid Waste.
Measure
Aimed for November 2010 Statewide Ballot Would Protect Funding for Local Public
Safety, Emergency Response, Transportation, Transit and Other Vital Local
Services
