SACRAMENTO – California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) officers and directors met at CSLEA headquarters June 10, 2016 for their second quarterly board meeting of the year.   The board meeting was immediately scheduled after the CSLEA Negotiations Team reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) with State of California administrators in the early morning hours of June 9, 2016.

“We brought our CSLEA officers and directors together, at the very same table we negotiated a tentative agreement at,”  said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “We carefully went over the bargaining process and what we achieved in negotiations.  As anxious as our members are to see the details, we must first go over the tentative agreement point by point with our board members so that they may make the very important decision of whether to move the tentative agreement forward for a ratification vote by members.”

During  an executive session in which CSLEA officers and directors discussed the tentative agreement, the board voted in favor of sending the tentative agreement to CSLEA members for a ratification vote.

The board discussed sending the tentative agreement out to members on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.  A ratification vote will be conducted electronically beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 20th and until 5 p.m. on June 24th.   All full CSLEA members will have the opportunity to cast their ballot. A link to the ballot will be emailed to members and a link to the ballot will also be placed on CSLEA.com. CSLEA will announce the result of the ratification ballot as soon as it is tabulated.

“RPPOA and CSLEA have both worked very hard for our members during contract negotiations,” said Resource Protection Peace Officers Association (RPPOA) President Matt Yarbrough.  “This work has resulted in gains for our members.”

 

“As part of the CSLEA Negotiations Team, I can tell you the CSLEA negotiation team put in a lot of hours for many, many months on behalf of our members and strove for the best possible agreement with the State,” said Kevin Highbaugh, president of California Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents (CABCA).  “I’d like to thank everyone on the team for their commitment and tireless effort.”

Barcelona opened the Board of Directors meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for fallen law enforcement officers and members of the military.

Other items on the Board’s agenda:

• The board received an update from CSLEA Director of Communications and Public Affairs Teri Cox regarding website and mobile app use, social media stats, video independent expenditures produced in support of political candidates, videos of members at work and being awarded for their work. Cox reported that CSLEA’s new website has been well-received, particularly the new “contact us” JotForm in which members can easily contact CSLEA with questions, comments or concerns.   “There isn’t a day that goes by without a membership question coming in through JotForm,” said Cox.  “This is exciting because our electronic interaction with our members has increased dramatically.  Each member who contacts us through this means, receives an automatic reply stating CSLEA has received it.   And we are replying to these messages almost instantly during business hours, and shortly after, if they’ve come in after business hours.”

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  CSLEA Senior Vice President, CHP-PSDA President Tina Brazil

  CSLEA Senior Vice President Tina Brazil updated the board on the classes and events planned for membership in San Diego in August and in Arcadia in September. Brazil reminded board members that in order for the CalPERS class and the class on social security to take place, there must be at least 25 people per class.

• CSLEA Chief Counsel Kasey Clark informed the board on the status of arbitration and legal defense cases in which CSLEA is assisting its members.

• Capitol Advocacy Legislative Advocate Shane LaVigne presented the board with the progress of legislation that is currently supported or opposed by CSLEA.

• CSLEA Political Consultant Peter Mitchell informed CSLEA officers and directors about election results and the runoffs in November.

• CSLEA Chief Financial Officer Ricardo Sanchez updated the board on CSLEA financial matters and CSLEA membership.

The CSLEA board meets four times a year.   The next CSLEA board meeting will likely be held in September.