On Monday, July 28, 2014,  the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA)  and its affiliate, Fire Marshal and Emergency Services Association (FMESA), hosted a new employee orientation for six CALFIRE Deputy State Fire Marshals at CSLEA Headquarters.

“It is important for us to introduce CSLEA and FMESA to these recently hired Deputy State Fire Marshals,” said CSLEA Senior Legal Counsel Andrea Perez.  “As is the case for all of our members, we want them to know we are just a phone call away.   For them to be at our headquarters and to see us in person makes for a great start to a great partnership.”

Perez presented association information along with FMESA President Daren Watkins, CSLEA Member Services Representative George Pina and CSLEA Director of Communications Teri Cox.  The purpose of a new employee orientation is to brief new or reinstated Bargaining Unit 7 employees on the services and benefits available to full-dues paying members.

“It is so important for our new Bargaining Unit 7 employees  to understand the benefits of CSLEA and FMESA,” said FMESA President Daren Watkins.  “No one ever expects to have to rely on legal representation for situations that might arise on the job,  but, given the nature of  a fire marshal’s job it is a smart  idea to have access to it.”

CSLEA is made up of 18 affiliates which include law enforcement, public safety and consumer protection professionals who work for the State of California such as:  agents, police officers, rangers, wardens, investigators, criminalists,  fire marshals, inspectors, deputy commissioners, emergency dispatchers, emergency management coordinators, firefighters, motor carrier specialists, examiners, licensing reps,  conservationists, and  lifeguards.

The difference between fair share and full dues is minimal and those few extra dollars provide a $15,000 life insurance policy, membership discounts on thousands of items, services, entertainment venues nationwide, immediate contact with an attorney, legal representation, and a legal defense fund.  When you become a state employee you are not automatically placed as a full dues member of CSLEA.  You are placed in as a fair share status, you are not a full dues paying member until you fill out an application  or sign up on-line  at CSLEA.com.

“This is important information  that employees new to Bargaining Unit 7 need to know, ” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “Not everyone is familiar with how labor associations function  or why it’s essential to be  a part of one.  We become a partner in our members’ careers and we want our members to know we are here to meet their needs.  No member should ever hesitate to contact us.”   To join CSLEA as a full member.