PARI-MUTUEL EMPLOYEE'S GUILD SEIU LOCAL 280 Affiliated with Service Employees International General
Office (626)
301-7900 1-800-439-4280
(CA toll free) (626) 301-7960 FAX E-mail:
Pmeg_Local280@hotmail.com
WEB: http://www.seiulocal280.org
PRESIDENT RICHARD CASTRO RICHARD CASTRO
Sometime 2005/2006 the California Horse Racing Board
mandated a ruling that any race meet that ran over 30 days would have to have a
Poly/Synthetic track installed to have racing dates in 2008. At the
P. M. E. G. Local 280 submitted a letter prior to this
meeting supporting the waiver. At the
meeting Local 280, other labor leaders (S.E.I.U.,Teamsters)
and various Northern CA Trainers, also supported the waiver. The T. O. C. (Thoroughbred Owners) and the
Statewide Representative for CA Trainers spoke against the waiver. Commissioners voted on the issue 4:2 to deny
the waiver!
Later that day, Bay Meadows gave notice that they plan
to close down on
Since the
What P. M. E. G. Local 280 is doing, and asking for membership support
is to have the C. H. R. B. Commissioners hear the issue again and SUPPORT THE
WAIVER TO BE GRANTED TO BAY MEADOWS FOR TWO YEARS. If you agree, please Email:
|
Governor Schwarzenegger |
www.govmail.ca.gov |
|
Senator Leland Yee |
www.senator.yee@sen.ca.gov |
|
CHRB Chairman Richard
Shapiro |
www.richard@wincoasset.com |
|
CHRB Commissioner John Amerman |
www.amermanj@mindspring.com |
|
CHRB Commissioner Jerry Moss |
jmoss@almosounds.net |
|
CHRB Commissioner Marie Moretti |
mariemoretti@msn.com |
The two Commissioners who supported the waiver allowing
Bay Meadows to run for two more years were Commissioner John Harris (phone
message 559-884-2477) (www.johnharris@harrisfarms.com) and Commissioner John Andreini
(phone message 650-573-1111 ext. 230) (www.jandreini@andreini.com). It would be nice to pass along a ‘thank
you’ to
these Commissioners.
If Bay Meadows closes, it is assumed that the San Mateo
Fairgrounds will have the rights to a Satellite Parlor. This location will not hire as many employees
that are required to man the Bay Meadows
facility. It is my opinion that if either Sonoma County
Fairgrounds at
live Bay
Meadow race dates, those locations will not hire as many clerks as currently
staffed at Bay Meadows.
Our Collective Bargaining Agreement will cover the new
proposed locations, but most of the other Locals don’t have Contracts to cover
work classifications in the new proposed locations.
UNITEHERE jurisdictional negotiations are ongoing. We are still trying to secure in writing that
Pension and Health Trusts will remain intact.
We are in discussions that involve a new governance structure, who and
how member representation will work and other related issues. We have a long way to go, many hurdles to
jump before anything is brought back to the membership for a vote.
With UNITEHERE, some racing associations, many but not
nearly enough, (especially on the Senate side) CA. Legislative Officials, CA
Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc., (may change, major turnover shakeup), we are
active participants to insure if Indian Tribal Compacts are passed, that money
(most common figure is $300 Million dollars/year) will be available for
horsemen’s purses. What I’m hearing now,
is that right after Easter this issue will be brought up before the
Legislature. We may ask at that time for
membership support in writing letters, phone bank, signing petitions.
We have members working with the ‘Don’t Let Dixon Down’
campaign. We have been participating on
phone banks, and have been distributing leaflets supporting passage (Ballot
Measure M, N, O & P) of the four ballot measures
on
The Governor has appointed a replacement for
Commissioner William Bianco. The paid
Officers of Local 280 are really sorry to see that this Commissioner was not
re-appointed. He has really been a
supporter of all our issues and will be missed.
The newly appointed Commissioner is Jessie Choper. He has served as a Professor of public law
for Boalt Hall School of Law at the
Happy Easter from all the Officers
and staff of Pari-Mutuel Employees Guild, Local 280.
You all know what a Labor Union is; you belong to one
even though we call ourselves a Guild.
Have you heard or read of something called the "North American
Union"? Basically, that is what
some radio talk show hosts are calling the merging of the
Over the last few years we have
had members that worked enough days for the Medical Insurance, but didn't want
it or didn't need it. In some cases,
taking our Medical Insurance actually hurt them with their insurance from a
previous employer. If you work the hours
(1170) or 85% of the nights, you have
to take the insurance -- there are no exceptions. So, if you don't want the insurance, don't
work the hours.
Members that are on Local 280's Kaiser
insurance (through their work at the racetracks) may receive a letter from
Kaiser around the age of 64, telling them that they have to sign up for
Medicare Parts B & D, or they may risk a penalty when they finally do sign
up. IGNORE
those Kaiser letters. If the
employer is paying for your insurance, you don't need to pay extra for Part B
& D, and neither does your spouse.
If you have any questions, please call.
The mailing strongly suggests that if you don't sign up, you will have
to pay more for your Part B Medicare than the current $93.50. There is one small "blip" in the
letter, saying that you may not have to sign up if the employer is paying for
your insurance; but that statement appears to be "overshadowed" by
the threat of higher Part B & D costs.
Don't sign up -- your Kaiser employer-paid-insurance is the primary
insurance. Kaiser doesn't need another
$93.50 from you for the same coverage.
However, if you are paying for the insurance through the California
Service Employees Trust, and you or your spouse are of Medicare age, then you
will have to sign up for Part B and possibly D.
Elaine Large, Local 280's
secretary from 1995 through January of this year, had to retire due to health
issues. Local 280 and I wish her the
best. Lynne has done a great job trying
to handle both secretarial positions in the interim. A new secretary Roxanne
was hired in as Elaine's replacement the last week of March.
PICNIC
This year's picnic will be held
at
RETIREE'S LUNCHEON
The Northern Retirees Luncheon
is scheduled to take place on Thursday June 7th at Golden Gate
Fields. Tickets for Retirees require a
$5.00 deposit for each ticket (two tickets maximum). Additional tickets may be obtained at $20.00
each. Tickets are available now at the
Guild office, by sending the proper amount of payment with a
stamped/self-addressed #10 envelope.
SOUTHERN VICE-PRESIDENT DOUG
KEMPT
CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS
I have received numerous customer complaints recently
involving clerks being rude to customers. While some of the complaints did not
turn into Disciplinary Actions against the clerk, the rash of complaints is
alarming. We are facing a crossroads in this industry, and we can be part of
the solution or we can part of the problem. I realize that some of are
customers can be very rude to us, but we need to keep these customers coming
back to the racetracks or we will be helping this industry crumble.
NEW EVENT KEY SET-UP
In an effort to keep the event keys consistent year
round, management decided to change the event keys a couple of weeks ago. We
have been told that this new set up will remain in effect until we get new
machines. I appreciate all of your feedback and would like to inform you that
your
NEW MACHINES COMING SOON!
The long awaited new machines will be coming to a facility
near you in the near future. We have had the opportunity to practice with a
working model of the new machines. We have been told that more working models
will be arriving in the next few months that we can get a feel for. The new
machines should be a lot more reliable and can perform many more functions. If
you are asked to use a new machine, please let your
The
SANTA ANITA ADDING SUNDAY NIGHTS
Santa Anita has begun taking the Night Signal on Friday
thru Sunday Nights. Currently, these night jobs are handled as a Late shift
from the Daytime worklist. You need to be able to work all three nights to sign
up for these Late Shifts. Should Santa Anita decide to add Thursday night as
well, we will be adding Santa Anita as a Satellite to the Los Alamitos worklist
for Thursday through Sunday nights. Keep your eyes open for memos regarding
these changes.
BIG DAYS
Here
is a list of big days which are coming up. Please make yourself available to
work the following days:
|
Friday |
April
27 |
First
Friday Night |
|
Sunday |
April
29 |
Gold Rush Day & Sports
Bag Giveaway |
|
SATURDAY |
MAY
5 |
|
|
Saturday |
May
19 |
Preakness
Day |
|
Monday |
May
28 |
Memorial Day & Beach
Towel Giveaway |
|
Saturday |
June
09 |
|
|
Saturday |
June
30 |
Gold
Cup & Cap Giveaway |
|
Friday |
July
06 |
Cash Call Mile & $5
Voucher Giveaway |
|
Saturday |
July
07 |
American
Oaks & Cap Giveaway |
|
Wednesday |
July
18 |
|
We
cannot emphasize enough how important it is to work these Big Days. These are
the days when we can attract new fans, and we can help them to become more regular
racing fans which in turn supports our jobs.
BAY MEADOWS FUTURE
Bay Meadows future is in doubt. We supported their
request for a waiver from installing a new synthetic surface for two years, but
the CHRB denied their request. We will continue to do whatever we can to help
Bay Meadows remain a Race Track. You can expect some political posturing in the
coming months, and we will be a big part of it. I do not believe anyone knows
for sure what will eventually be decided.
TICKETS THAT NEED TO BE LOCKED
Should you encounter a situation where you feel a
ticket needs to be locked or cancelled, and you do not have the ticket in your
possession, please call the Mutuel Office first for assistance. Management has
agreed to hear your situation and act in a swift manner to help you. Do not
call the TOTE ROOM to lock or cancel a ticket.
CALL ON / CALL OFF THREE HOURS PRIOR TO
FIRST POST
The deadline for calling on or calling off is three
hours prior to the first post time. Somehow some of us have been led to believe
that you can call off anytime during the day. We need to know that you will not
be available so that you can be replaced, so please help us fill our crew
requirements by following the Call on and Call off rules. This is especially
true at the smaller satellites where we do not normally have replacements
signing in for replacement work.
NORTHERN VICE PRESIDENT NATALIE GIBSON
Bay Meadows is to close after this year. The California Horse Racing Board voted 4-2
on Thursday the 22nd of March to deny a two-year waiver for the
installation of a new synthetic racing surface.
President Castro and I attended an
"all-hands" meeting on Sunday March 25, to further discuss the Bay
Meadows issue. It was suggested at that
meeting, for you the members to let the CHRB and your elected State
Legislators, know what you think, by sending e-mails or faxes requesting that
they vote to keep Bay Meadows open at least another two years.
Bay Meadows History
|
1934
|
Bay
Meadows opened under the direction of William P. Kyne on the grounds of an
old airfield |
|
1940s
|
The
track remained open during World War II, and agreed to put 92% of profits
toward the war effort |
|
1945 |
El
Lobo is taken by plane to Bay Meadows' parking lot -- the first horse to be
transported by plane |
|
1948 |
Legendary
jockey Willie Shoemaker begins his career, galloping horses at Bay Meadows;
he later won his first stakes victory in 1949 at Bay Meadows |
|
2005 |
After
years of warnings that the track's time was running out, the San Mateo City
Council approved a plan to build homes, offices, parks, and businesses on the
land occupied by the track |
|
2006 |
In
the 4th race on Dec. 1, Bay-area based jockey Russell Baze, set a
record for most wins by a North American jockey with his 9,531st
victory |
Some
of the famous horses that have raced at Bay Meadows: Sea Biscuit, Determine,
Citation, Majestic Prince, Wild Again, and John Henry (two-time Horse of the
Year; retired in 1985 as racings greatest money winner.
Some of you have approached me about WILL CALL. If you are not going to work for a few days,
put yourself on WILL CALL; this way
we do not lose a job. The reason is that
management is only required to fill 50% of the call-offs at the Host
Track. You are costing the Union jobs by
not coming to work. Your help in this
matter will be greatly appreciated. It
only takes a day to get off of WILL CALL,
so do your part and call when you are taking time off.
By the time you this, Management should be finished
training Permits. Permits will be able
to work at most of the fairs on weekends.
Last year, Permits worked full time at the
Bay Meadows Spring meet will close on April 22, and
To the clerks who are retiring, we wish you all the
luck and good health in your retirement; please keep in touch. Thank you to all the ABAs for doing a great
job; remember to get your Last On numbers to the Southern Office on
Sundays. To all who have lost a loved one,
you have our deepest sympathy, and to those who are ill, we wish you a speedy
recovery. Late word was received, to
wish a speedy "get well" to Terry Hennigan.
Happy
Easter
IN SAD REMEMBRANCE
The Sisters and Brothers of Local 280 extend our
deepest sympathy to the family and friends of those active members and retirees
who recently passed away.
Bill Bourland [RET]
George Hagopian [RET]
James Horne [RET]
Fernando C. Marques Jr [RET]
Richard Paiva [RET]
Carleton Palmer [RET]
Kenneth Voyles [RET]
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our condolences go
to the families of: Kathy Vangsnes on the death of her mother, Dora
2007
TENTATIVE RACING CALENDAR** Location Inclusive
Dates Days THOROUGHBREDS - CENTRAL &
SOUTHERN ZONES* Santa Anita - Los
Angeles Turf Club, Inc. 85 Hollywood Park
Spring * 63 43 Santa Anita -Oak
Tree Racing Association 30 * 32 THOROUGHBREDS - NORTHERN ZONE 31 Bay Meadows 50 35 Bay Meadows 52 32 QUARTERHORSE - STATEWIDE- NIGHTS Los Alamitos
(Spring) 114 Los Alamitos
(Winter) 90 HARNESS - STATEWIDE - NIGHTS to be announced FAIRS AND MIXED MEETS - STATEWIDE 9 11 * 5 * 17 Bay Meadows -