Tag Archives: EAA Union

EAA Wins ERB, CAO Fighting a losing battle as Members finally turn the tide.

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It was a Brisk morning to head to the the Employee Relations Board yet hundreds of EAA members upset at further concessions and fed up with working for less marched over to the ERB to demand the CAO bargain Fairly and fight the declaration of impasse.

Errol A. Griffin strolled into the ERB to face off with EAA seeking to have Impasse declared, Instead the ERB ruled that no Impasse exists and a mediator as requested originally by EAA nearly two months ago will begin assisting with bargaining without the declaration of impasse

MOU 61 Inequity

Now what is interesting to point out to the members of EAA is just how sweet a deal the CAO gave it’s very own employees in MOU 61, although they have to pay the 4% for medical they get to do it in steps1, was this offered to EAA members? Was this one of the many points of contention the negotiating team had? Now a mediator will attempt to resolve these issues and hammer out a fair contract for EAA Union members.

United We Can Win!

Clearly a turning point for EAA, and coalition members alike was achieved on the 11th floor today, members fed up with an overspending council who pushes blame on an educated workforce made up of the best available candidates in Southern California and across the nation had reached it’s boiling point.

Hundreds of members, one cause. End the concessions, simple message I have tried to convince members of for years, it was taking hold. members weren’t quiet in the concerns they shared about their pay and benefits and no longer felt ashamed of earning a fair salary.

One EAA Officer at today’s ERB hearing said, ” EAA members have once again stepped up and shown our work matters. If we could stand up together as a united city family, we’d make an impact.”

Miguel Santana

What was clear is when the members of EAA came prepared to fight they did so to take a stand, what may not be clear to others is the unification of members across union lines and classifications that is taking place.

Future Actions, the fight has just begun.

In certain classifications Job Actions were held that were very successful in previous years, these job actions now have taken on a new role and become a topic of concern for the CAO. Members from every union have had enough.

Coalition members have clearly stated they will decertify any union which attempts to seek ANY further concessions, members have begun meeting to discuss possible job actions and these cross union lines. Fed up members in certain classifications are more then ready to act when needed to protect the collective interest of LA City Workers and it isn’t about union specific anymore it is about employees as a whole.

EAA, SEIU 721, ASCFME 3090, Luina 777, it isn’t about you, it’s about us and we will work together to end any further concessions which have not been previously agreed to. United we are sending a message that we will no longer be the scapegoat of this council.

Today it was EAA members tomorrow it is all members.

 

(1) From the MOU 61 Contract

 

B. Retiree Health Benefit
1. Effective July 1, 2011, all Unit members who are members of LACERS shall
contribute an additional two percent (2%) of their pre-tax compensation to defray
a portion of the City’s cost of providing retiree health insurance, thereby resulting
in a total employee retirement contribution flat rate of nine percent (9%).
2. Effective January 1, 2013, all Unit members who are members of LACERS shall
contribute an additional two percent (2%) of their pre-tax compensation, thereby
increasing the employee contribution to defray a portion of the City’s cost of
providing retiree health insurance to a total of four percent (4%). Effective
January 1, 2013, the total employee retirement contribution flat rate shall be
eleven percent (11%) and shall be subject to modification pursuant to future
MOU negotiations in accordance with applicable Charter provisions.

 

Executive Director Angel Calvo Leaves EAA Union – Elections Disqualifications, Takeovers & Bargaining update.

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Yet Another Resignation

Angel Calvo the Interim Executive Director and Administrative Officer for EAA Union Has resigned effective immediately.  Sources indicated he will become the new Executive Director of the California Federation of Teachers Local 1273. He joins Joe Kahraman, and Michael Davies as the latest to leave since Bob Aquino was forced to retire some two years ago.

Members Elections Update

On September 30, 2011 EAA Union through their Election Committee released a statement detailing the Disqualification from candidacy of 9 Members the committee found that members Larry Rolon, John Dierking, Jeff Paxton, Mark Santistevan, Daniel Gomez, Amelia Hernandez, Gonzalo Barriga, Charles Siegler, and NaniLii Paxton all “engaged in campaign efforts prior to the authorized period”

Issues arose after the members disqualified above indicated in their candidate statements a slate running to take control of EAA and all used very similar wording such as “Take EAA Back, Put Members First”.

Some of these members continue the fight to be reinstated, calling the actions by EAA “absurd and appalling”

 AFT Seeking control of EAA

Some of the most disturbing rumours to come out of EAA are the ones involving AFT and the possible initiation of trusteeship of EAA based on the complaints filed by Gary Yamamoto and others.

This would equate to the end of EAA as the members know it and would leave those classifications represented by EAA in the worst possible position as they bargain with the City.

Members need to step up and participate in the elections and the running of their union for the sake of all involved, bargaining continues to be rocky and will require significant participation from the membership to avoid disastrous result.

 

EAA Union Executive Director Joe Kahraman Arrested For Grand Theft 3 EAA Employees Placed On Leave

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EAA Union Executive Director Joe Kahraman Arrested For Grand Theft

May 05, 2011
Los Angeles

Former EAA Union Executive Director Josif Kahraman was Arrested by LAPD Central Division officers in Downtown Los Angeles.

Joe Kahraman was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department at approximately 6:40 pm last night on a Single Felony Charge of Grand Theft.

He was released from custody early this morning on $20,000.00 Bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 26th, 2011.

Arrested along with  Joe was his wife. Joe Was hired last year to replace outgoing Executive Director Bob Aquino. EAA union Refused comment when contacted.

Who was the Victim in the case?  EAA Union.

Was it embezzlement?  Did he raid the treasury?  Absolutely not.

He and his wife were arrested for allegedly stealing two laptops from EAA after being asked to leave the union offices after the Board placed him on Administrative leave.

What are some current issues at EAA?

  • AFT Certification
  • Financial Health of the Union
  • Staff Employment

Wrap-up, In the last 24 hours Current Board of Governors have placed the Executive Director on Leave. Had him and his wife arrested for allegedly stealing EAA property, placed 2 staff members on leave, and Suspended 3 Governors pending investigation .

Educated members need to become informed and get all of the facts.

They are holding a Special Joint Stewards & Unit Council Members Meeting to discuss Pending Charges and Staff changes. Please attend the meeting on May 09, 2011 at 5:30 At the EAA Offices and get the facts for yourself.

Things need to get straightened out before the CAO abuses the members for the internal union issues.  All Options must be explored AFT is far from the only place to go.  AFT Organizers Must be excused from the union offices until the members have had a chance to look over all of the facts.

3 EAA Employees Have Been Placed On Leave.

Executive  Director  Joe Kahraman  has been let  go from the union.

Labor Representative Michael  Davies  is on temporary leave from the union.

Labor Representative Richard Sanchez is on temporary leave from the union.

EAA members also learned what happens when you make a deal with the Mayor or CAO, they go back on it imposing increased costs on the members resulting in EAA filing a UERP Charge.

Update

May 12,2011

Yeretsian Law announced today that the Los Angeles County District Attorney will not file criminal charges against Engineers & Architects Association Executive Director Joe Kahraman and his wife Ani Kahraman.

The District Attorney’s office cited “lack of evidence” as one of the reasons for the decision.

The attorney for the Kahramans, Lara Yeretsian, commented, “We expected this outcome all along. Mr. and Mrs. Kahraman have done nothing wrong.” Mr. Kahraman was hired in 2010 to head the Engineers & Architects Association, which is the oldest Los Angeles City employee union, representing approximately 5,000 City employees.

“As the executive director of the union, Mr. Kahraman had every right and authority to possess the laptop computer and at no time did he or his wife intend to permanently deprive the union of it,” remarked Ms. Yeretsian.

“Mr. and Mrs. Kahraman have always acted in the best interest of the union and its members, and they are very pleased with the D.A.’s decision not to file any charges,” added Ms. Yeretsian.

 

EAA Unions $600,000.00 Bob Aquino Payout and alleged Internal Lawsuits at EAA?

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When you hear about union struggles it normally involves employees against management.

What we are hearing these days is internal chaos erupting at EAA Union.

First allegations that the Bob Aquino Cash payout was $600,000.00.

Quite a large number when you consider the member base isn’t that large.

Second reports regarding the reps themselves and one reps failure to want to pay dues in solidarity with the members he represents.

According to two people familiar with the case one rep allegedly threatened to sue to stop paying dues and was compensated for his past payment of dues.

An Email allegedly from one Ben Pezzillo Labor Rep. at EAA was circulated exposing the AFT deal which was reached without members voting and in order to prevent the membership from having a chance to vote on leaving EAA in a back door deal. What we are hearing is that the email is still not clear as to the source as Ben Pezzillo has denied sending the email but others claim he did.

AFT deal; was this email sent out to make Ben Pezzillo look bad to the Board of Governors for exposing their back room shady deal?

Was Ben Pezzillo acting to protect the membership ? Did he send the e-mail in question?

What we know for sure is that someone wanted to make the membership aware of  the deal so that the conversation could take place.

It is no secret EAA quickly put out propaganda defending their actions with AFT after the dealings became heated.

How long would they have kept this from the membership?

People are looking for answers as to why the union is suffering so much chaos in these important times, and why their dues will go up 100%  more then they are now just to join a teachers union?