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.
In the aftermath of the devastating California wildfires, we find ourselves grappling with a profound sense of loss and resilience. Many in our CAPE family have faced unimaginable hardships as homes and livelihoods were reduced to ashes.
Communities throughout Los Angeles County have been devastated by massive fires that have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed over 1,000 buildings, and killed five individuals.
As previously reported, CAPE, in coordination with the Coalition of County Unions (CCU), has been involved in lengthy negotiations with the County over the Board of Supervisors’ COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Under California law, unions have the right to bargain over the “effects” of a mandatory vaccination program, though the employer has the management right to make the decision to have a mandate in the first place.
On September 21, CAPE held a Member Info Session via Zoom to give the latest updates on the new Vaccination Policy as well as help answer any member questions. Our Member Info Session featured an expert panel including our CAPE President, Carlos Clayton, our General Counsel, Blaine Meek, and Will Aitchison, founder/director of Labor Relations Information System and one of the foremost legal experts in the county on vaccination negotiations.
CAPE members joined together to spread a little light to one of our L.A. County co-workers and fellow CAPE member who is currently serving overseas. Eric Schuchman was recently deployed to Kuwait and will be there for at least 10 months. Our Community Service Team-sponsored letter-writing campaign was a huge success and we collected numerous messages of support to encourage Eric while he’s away.
CAPE and the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) Reach a Tentative Agreement on a Fringe Benefits Contract with the County of Los Angeles.
After months of virtual bargaining for a successor Fringe Benefits Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Coalition of County Unions (CCU) has reached a Tentative Agreement for a nine-month contract, effective retroactively from July 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
CAPE and hundreds of other union members and labor allies poured into the stadium to root for the Dodgers on Friday, August 20, as they played the New York Mets.
Our President, Carlos Clayton, represented CAPE on the field before the game while the opening pitch was delivered. Clearly, our CAPE members brought good luck with us, as the Dodgers beat the Mets 3-2 to maintain an eight-game winning streak.
Thank you to everyone who attended the game, as well as those who supported by watching at home.
