When unemployment in California was skyrocketing, some Local 1000 members at the Employment Development Department (EDD) accommodated the department with flex schedules, allowing more work to be done. Now employees want flex schedules to return.

"We accommodated them to get work done," said Ray Shoblom, EDD employment program representative. "Now it's time they gave us a little consideration and let us start an hour earlier."

Members say years ago management demanded extra hours and days of work--sometimes up to 100 hours of overtime per month--to  make them look good. Employees were accommodating for the cause. But management took away flex schedules, forcing employees back into 8-5 shifts.

Speaker John Boehner--who has near absolute control over what comes up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives--is willing to ignore the dire unemployment crisis in this country, leaving nearly two million jobless workers to face a cut-off in access to emergency unemployment insurance, while he pursues a polarizing anti-worker agenda.
 
As EDD employees, we see every day how the federal unemployment extensions, which run out Dec.31, are the lifeline that sustains these workers hit hardest by the severe economic downturn.
 
Click here and join in demanding Congress extend emergency unemployment insurance now
 
Congress has never cut back on federally funded unemployment insurance when unemployment was anywhere near this high for this long.
 
But this time, it looks like it really might happen. Speaker Boehner is using the limited time left in this year's legislative calendar not to extend unemployment benefits, but to hold votes on legislation designed to benefit corporate CEOs and the richest 1 percent of Americans.
 
Email your congressperson now; demand they extend emergency unemployment insurance
 

The Employment Development Department (EDD) gets hundreds of calls from Californians about Bank of America's poor service, late debit cards, lost debit cards, improper fees and failure to solve problems after complaints. The time for Good Customer Service is NOW!

Click here to download the Bank of America petition [PDF]

September 9, 2011

Are you feeling that the workload is worse than it's ever been?

It's not your imagination.  Due to the hiring freeze, there are currently 117 DIPR (Disability Insurance Program Representative) vacancies and 397 EPR (Employment Program Representative) vacancies at EDD.

Local 1000 lambasts roll-out of UI electronic benefit payment cards (EBP)

Local 1000 team members lambasted the failure of Bank of America to provide customer service to EBP recipients. Since July 2011, 770,000 UI debit cards have been issued. There are days when it seems like all of them are calling EDD with problems.

EDD is planning to delay the pay date for permanent intermittent employees (PIs), seasonal clerks and "late docks."  Here's what employees have to say:

Oakland
"It was 'highly recommended' that we contact our financial and/or credit institutions immediately to determine if adjustments to due dates are needed to avoid any penalties for late payment.  Well, it's not as simple as just telling everyone that my pay date has changed.  There is no way I can ask them to wait 3 additional days.  They want their money by the first and I'm stretching it by waiting until the 8th.  My landlord has bills just like I do and counts on the rent money coming in by a certain time."

Monthly UI training meetings, EBP "Point of Contact Person"

Our second Local 1000/EDD JLMC (Joint Labor Management Committee) was held on June 2nd.  We're making progress on resolving some long-standing issues on workload, training and providing quality public services.  Our next meeting is scheduled for August 11th.

EDD's proposed pay day delay for permanent intermittents and seasonal clerks won't affect employees on direct deposit.  While direct deposit isn't a solution for everyone, we encourage PIs and Seasonal Clerks to sign up so they can get their pay earlier. 

A new, statewide Joint Labor Management Committee on EDD workloads is being formed and will meet quarterly to discuss workload concerns and promote quality customer service.

New language--specifically targeted to empower Local 1000 to deal with longstanding workload issues at EDD--was negotiated and ratified in November.

Acting locally & thinking nationally
Stockton EDD activist Nikki Linnerman sees national battle for working families

A decade ago Nikki Linnerman became active in Local 1000 because she was concerned about her coworkers being mistreated at a state office in Stockton -- she won that fight years ago. Now she is fighting for all workers in America.

"All over America there are middle class families that are seeing life get worse for them." - Nikki Linnerman