FOLSOM – On Saturday, May 11, 2019, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Chief Counsel Kasey Clark met with five California State Parks seasonal lifeguards who are nearing completion of their training upon hire.  They will be assigned to Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) as part of a public safety force comprised of State Park peace officers, peace officer-lifeguards and non-sworn seasonal lifeguards.

Folsom Lake SRA is one of the busiest state parks during the summer months. Approximately two million people visit annually.

Clark provided the new seasonal lifeguards with an overview of the services CSLEA provides to its members, including an update on the current status of negotiations with CalHR.  Clark indicated one of the biggest obstacles to negotiating on behalf of seasonal lifeguards is educating those who are unfamiliar with the classification, both as to the importance of their work and that the position is not merely transitional (nearly 100 seasonal lifeguards work more than six months and 1000 hours each year).

Clark explained the two levels of membership options available to seasonal lifeguards:

• a basic level of services limited to life insurance and access to the CSLEA Legal Defense Fund for civil or criminal matters arising from the course and scope of employment, and
• full membership which includes representation by the CSLEA Legal Division for administrative matters and the ability to vote on a collective bargaining agreement.

Clark would like to extend his appreciation to State Park Peace Officer Lifeguard and Training Instructor Matthew Pasquarella for helping to facilitate the meeting and for expressing the importance of CSLEA membership both as a seasonal and full-time employee.