President’s message
Robert Gibson OCEA President
We are one The recent actions by politicians across the country, our state and County have crystallized the threats we all face as public employees and a union. From the legislation introduced in Wisconsin, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana and our own state, the battle lines have clearly been drawn. Some politicians want to take away our right to collectively bargain. They want to take away our ability to advocate for our members. They want to take away any opposition to their power. In the city of Costa Mesa, they even want to take away our very existence. The City Council there recently introduced a plan to eliminate about 200 city employees and outsource their jobs. Some of our members were skeptical of our claims prior to last fall’s general election about the intentions of certain politicians in California. Some claimed we were engaging in hyperbole or attempting to scare our members for some other political agenda. The ugly tree we warned you about for years is now bearing bitter fruit. We are under attack on several fronts. Legislation has been introduced strip us of many of our rights as workers. Signatures are being gathered for propositions to reduce our pension benefits and to increase the employee costs. Other propositions would serve to significantly limit our voice in Sacramento.
Let the recent wave of political demonstrations throughout the world reassure you of man’s desire to be treated justly and to have their grievances addressed. I am saddened by some of our politicians’ attempts to take away our basic human rights in this great country while throngs of the common people throughout this world sacrifice their lives to achieve them. We will win these battles by remaining determined and resolute. We will win these battles by standing together. We will win these battles because we are right.
“We cannot lie down and let people vilify us for their own personal political gain. We must join together with our fellow union members throughout this state and country to fight for our livelihoods and to secure a future for us and our families. We must fight to protect the middle class and to oppose the corporate financed raiding of government assets.” We are one. One people united in our cause. One people united in our desire to live long, healthy and happy lives. One people dedicated to giving our families and those that follow after us a better life. Yours faithfully,
We cannot allow this to happen. We cannot lie down and let people vilify us for their own personal political gain. We must join together with our fellow union members throughout this state and country to fight for our livelihoods and to secure a future for us and our families. We must fight to protect the middle class and to oppose the corporatefinanced raiding of government assets. We must fight the misinformation and misdirection of billionaires and corporate moguls that wish to silence our opposition to their plans. 2
OCEA EMPLOYEE
Robert Gibson OCEA President rgibson@oceamember.org
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