The California Association of Professional Employees (CAPE, AFL-CIO) is the bargaining unit for more than 2,500 professional employees of the County of Los Angeles.
We are a successful and thriving union, but a strong contract means little if members aren’t aware of our rights in the workplace and empowered to exercise them.
In this issue, we look back at the amazing work and incredible victories secured during the fall and winter of 2023, discuss helpful tips when considering retirement, and gear up for CAPE’s 60th Anniversary in 2024.
CAPE members’ Contract Ratification Ballots were counted last week by the election vendor and the results say it all – voting members from all CAPE Los Angeles County Bargaining Units approved the Tentative Agreements (TAs) achieved last year by CAPE’s Bargaining Teams by a whopping 96% combined majority.
As part of the new Fringe Benefits contract negotiated by the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), the County agreed to increase its contribution toward the Choices Plan for 2016-2018 to help cover the increases in our medical and dental premiums (any amount we receive over the premium amount can be taken home as taxable cash). Below are the improved 2016 County healthcare contributions:
Employee $ 860.72 Employee + 1 $ 1,570.43 Employee + 2 or more $ 1,855.16
CAPE Admin
on Wednesday, December 30 2015 - 1:09pm
On Monday, December 14, the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) reached a Tentative Agreement (T/A) with the County of Los Angeles on a sweeping contract that includes significant enhancements in paid leave – vacation and holidays – and in the County’s negotiated contribution toward our health and dental plans, The Choices Plan. Major highlights include the following:
We continue to see the positive difference CAPE makes in the careers of L.A. County professionals when we join and participate in our union. CAPE’s Negotiating Teams and our representatives at the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) fringe benefits bargaining table achieved major gains for CAPE members during the 2015 contract negotiations. These include a 10% pay raise package, significant additional funding for our rising healthcare premiums, an extra week of vacation time, a new Cesar Chavez Holiday starting in 2017, and more.
Due to a mistake in the initial balloting, CAPE is conducting a Contract Ratification RE-VOTE in all L.A. County CAPE Bargaining Units to ensure the integrity of the voting process. As such, we ask all CAPE members to please disregard the previously mailed voting materials. We also apologize for any inconvenience to those who already voted.
CAPE LA County Unit members will get to vote-by-mail soon regarding the terms of your new CAPE Bargaining Unit Salary Contract Tentative Agreement (TA). CAPE's Negotiations Teams reached a TA with County management on a new 3-year, 10% pay increase package for all CAPE-represented employees in October. Since then we have been working hard to make sure you receive the first 3% pay raise of the new agreement, which will be retroactive to 10/1/2015, as soon as administratively possible.
Regarding your important fringe benefits, the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), including CAPE representatives, expects to reach an overall agreement with the County very soon and has already achieved several major improvements. Please know as you cast your salary contract ratification vote in December that a new Cesar Chavez annual Holiday starting in 2017, one extra week of vacation time upon completing 24 years of service, and significant additional funding for your rising healthcare costs over the next three years have already been secured by the CCU.
