BCDDAA Members Fight for Fair Treatment

BCDAA Members working with members of the PEA
 outside the Board of Supervisor's Chambers at an Informational Picket on September 9, 2014

One common sentiment among those who chose to follow the professional path that leads to becoming a prosecutor often note they do so because the concepts of justice and fairness have always resonated with them.  This is true among our own BCDDAA members.  Each of us work, every day, to wear the "white hat," to strike a balance between crime and punishment, to be fair in our dealings with defendants, victims, officers, opposing counsel and members of the public.

BCDDAA members Leah Payne, Jennifer Bennett and Elizabeth Norton
proudly displaying the PEA's simple message, "Fair Contract Now"

Perhaps this is why, as a group, the fact that Butte County is unwilling to treat our labor bargaining unit, the Professional Employees Association (PEA), the same as the rest of County employees has been found entirely unacceptable by our members.

The PEA, which represents professionals working for Butte County, reached impasse with the County earlier this month.  The reason was simple.  Butte County was unwilling to give all the members of the unit the same 2% increase in salary it had offered to the rest of the County employees.  This basic unfairness has become a tipping point for our members.  

BCDDAA Member Joanna Mupanduki
doing her part in the fight for fairness

On September 9, 2014, BCDDAA members took a stand in an attempt to engage the Board of Supervisors for Butte County in meaningful discussion about this fundamental unfairness.  BCDDAA members, along with other professionals from the PEA, participated in an informational picket outside the Board of Supervisor's chambers.  Steve Allen, union representative for the PEA, addressed the Board inside, calling on them to meet directly with the PEA's labor negotiation team to both explain and step in to resolve the issue.  

As Mr. Allen explained, "Employees have agreed to pay their share of pension costs.  The County is starting to offer small salary increases.  However, for an unknown reason the County bargaining team has refused to grant the same 2% to Professional Employees that it has granted to all other County Employees."

BCDDAA members have made it clear, we want a "Fair Contract Now."  The PEA will be exploring all of its legal alternative in the near future to continue working for fairness.  BCDDAA members will be in the forefront, seeking for fairness for themselves and other professionals within the PEA, because it is the right thing to do.