PARI-MUTUEL EMPLOYEE'S GUILD SEIU LOCAL 280 Affiliated with Service Employees International Union AFL-CIO,
CLC General
Office (626)
301-7900 1-800-439-4280
(CA toll free)
E-mail: Pmeg_Local280@hotmail.com (626) 301-7960
FAX WEB: http://www.seiulocal280.org
PRESIDENT RICHARD CASTRO RICHARD CASTRO
0506new.doc,
E-MAIL ADDRESSES!
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and other communications if possible out by e-mail. If we can get enough members to cooperate, we
feel we can do a better job getting information to you quicker, and at a
cheaper price. Please email us and give
us your email address so that we can have another way to communicate with you. Your cooperation will be greatly
appreciated. Either at
PMEG_Local280@hotmail.com
or by going to our website http://www.seiulocal280.org and
clicking on the "contact us" logo.
This sends an email to our support staff.
Our
Pari-Mutuel Employees presentations regarding Jurisdictional Hearings I thought
were exceptional. Part of our
presentation was to keep us as a stand alone SEIU Local as we are today. What I do know on this subject, is that other
SEIU Locals have been forced to merge and to date we have not. What has happened to us is that we are
participating in meetings with other SEIU Race Track Locals to explore ways we
can improve representation of workers and secure better Collective Bargaining
Agreements.
I do
believe these meetings after summer 2006 will be expanded to include
UNITEHERE. I do believe that UNITEHERE
wants our help in this Industry and that SEIU has little interest in Race Track
Bargaining Units anywhere in the
If
there will be a merger (other classifications into our Local or us into theirs)
we have demanded that a membership
vote be taken and such a move be passed by the majority of our membership.
Advanced Deposit Wagering
(A.D.W.) hearings will start soon at the CA State Capitol. I know many racing supporters are seeking
changes, including us. In our case we
will be looking for the promised telephone operator jobs that we never
got. I have serious doubts everyone will
get satisfied, and if that is true there is a possibility that A.D.W. accounts
could be suspended.
Proposed
new Racing Dates are another issue we are in the middle of. There are some C. H. R. B. Racing
Commissioners who feel there is too much racing and want to cut back live
racing days. I have heard talks of four
day a week racing; having two weeks or more between race meets; no racing in
December and everything else in-between.
The most common reason for the reduction in racing days is not enough
horses to fill the races, which is true.
Our
position: we want to keep as much as possible, the same racing schedule.
I think this issue will probably end up with fewer CA live racing
days, but nothing we can’t live with on a temporary basis.
Collective
Bargaining Agreement is being reviewed by lawyers and two different
Trusts. Once we have cleared this
process (middle or late June) we will get this document to the printers and
into your hands. The issues being looked at are those Federal and IRS clauses
to be certain we are in compliance with all facets of the law and the Trust
Documents. These Trusts don’t meet very
often (3-4 times a year for Pensions) which has been very frustrating for this
Executive Board and especially so for the negotiators. I sincerely thank the membership for your
patience on this issue. We do want to
get this into your hands as soon as possible, but we also want to be certain
everyone agrees "that we have it right!”
I have previously sent out
faxes stating that there will be no more medical surcharge payments for the
balance of this year. The trustees of the Pari-Mutuel Health Trust have
received the rates from the California Service Employees Health Trust and the
rates are favorable and no added money from the members is needed for the
balance of 2006. The Trustees will review the situation next year to determine
what amounts if any will be needed. Those persons that have overpaid should be
receiving their refunds within the next few weeks.
The SEIU National Industry
Pension Plan has started sending pension applications to persons who turn 70
years of age. Please fill them out and return the applications to this
office. We will forward them to the SEIU
Pension Plan and send you information about other possible benefits. The
Pension Trust appears to now be making pension payments retroactive back to the
first month after you turn 70. If the Pension Trust is forcing participants to
take the Pension at age 70, instead of making participants wait until the
Federally imposed ‘required distribution’ at age 70 ½, then the membership of
Local 280 should be aware that they should put in their pension application to
receive it to comply with the Trust’s rules. Management will allow members who
begin drawing their first pension checks after age 70, to work full time and
draw their pension. Please send the application in about 5 months before you
expect your first check.
Members of Local 280 have
$8000.00 of life insurance only if they have qualified for, and are currently
on the California Service Employees Health Insurance Plans. If you are not on the health insurance plans,
then you do not have the $8,000.00 life insurance. Retirees, who retire after
working 1000 days in the previous ten years before retirement and submitted and
were approved for the retirees' benefits, have $1000.00 life insurance. Those
members who are on ‘required distribution pensions,’ or now retire after the
age of 70, and worked 1000 days in the previous ten years should apply for the
retirees benefits, unless they are working full time and are on the active
member health benefits. Members that
have the active member health benefits, also have $2,500.00 worth of life
insurance on their eligible dependants.
Members that have children
between the ages of 19 and 23 who are going to an accredited school and taking
over 12 units a semester should be eligible to be on the member’s health
insurance. However, to remain eligible through the age of 23, the Trust
requires that the member provide from the learning institution, verification
for each semester or quarter the student attends school. You can send the
student verification directly to the Trust fund or you can send it to this
office and we will forward it to them.
SOUTHERN VICE PRESIDENT DOUG KEMPT
BIG DAYS COMING UP AT
The following days are GUARANTEED WORK DAYS ON TRACK:
Special Gift for on track clerks**
EXCELLENT
The week before
SEVEN DAY WORK RULE #15 TO BE ENFORCED
BY EXECUTIVE BOARD
During the week of
PARI- MUTUEL CLERK TRAINING
As of this writing there are
no scheduled training classes for clerks. Many of you have referred friends or family
to me to be trained at the next training class for clerks. We are still trying
to get management to train clerks at the current Hollywood Park Meet and before
the upcoming meet at
UPCOMING
We sent out sign-up sheets
for the upcoming
NEW MEET APPLICATIONS
As you are probably aware,
when you start a new meet (live at the host track), Management requires that
employees fill out a new application to start a new meet. Many of us complain
about the extra paperwork, however these applications
are the result of California State Laws requiring employers to have up to date
information on their employees. You would be amazed how many of us have
incorrect phone numbers on file. To make life easier for all involved, when you
report to work for a new meet at the host track, please be prepared to show
your your CHRB License and a CA ID and either a Social Security card or a
Passport. You are required to have your CHRB License with you when entering the
facility. We need to make this arduous process as easy as possible, so a little
patience and preparation on your part can go a long way. In the future, you may not be paid until your
paperwork is completed at the new meet. Thank you.
DEADLINE CHANGES AT SOME SCOTWINC FACILITIES EFFECTIVE
In an effort to better
service our customers, the following SCOTWINC facilities will change regular
deadline to prevent the appearance of clerks at windows not helping customers:
Barona, Fantasy Springs,
PROMOTE OUR INDUSTRY
We can make or break our own
destiny by the way we handle ourselves on the job. Our customers drive our
ability to expand work opportunities, so we need to make sure our customers are
happy and have a good time. We need repeat business and new people coming to
the race tracks to keep us working. Please keep this in mind the next time a
new customer frustrates you by not knowing what an exacta is.
Thank
you.
NORTHERN VICE PRESIDENT NATALIE GIBSON
First of all I would like to
thank the members who came out on
Recently I have heard of two
incidents that a clerk has left money in their box at two different
locations. Janitors turned the money in
at both locations and one was in the thousands.
Please make sure you turn in all your money. Check your box before leaving. Thanks go to the two janitors who were honest. They have my deepest respect for doing the
right thing.
I will be having an Acting
Business Agents meeting at Francescos in
The Board has been busy with
a solution into what International we will be merging with. Put your faith in the Board. Therefore it is very important that you
attend the next membership meeting which will be June 19th at
Francescos. I urge all of you to come
and listen to what is going on. If you
want to know what the future holds for Local 280, please attend the meeting.
DO NOT listen to rumors. Get it first hand from our President. The Board has informed the Rules Committee to
look into a dues structure so that some of you who show up to work and do not
get on will be paying less dues. You can see we are looking out for your best
interest.
Some of you have approached
me about Will Call. If you are not
working and have your name on a list you MUST go on Will Call. You cannot put your name on a worklist and
not show up. The reason is that
management in only required to fill 50% of the call offs. You are costing the Union jobs by not coming
to work. Your help in this matter will
be greatly appreciated.
WORKLISTS
The only way these lists can
be accurate is when you plan a move you need to call me or the Southern
Office. Not Management. Your name must be on a list in order to work
that meet. Good opportunity to work the
fairs this year. It is not too soon to
get your name on the Fair Circuit List.
Bay Meadows
We had permit training and
hope to have more in the near future.
Keep those applications coming in to me. I need at least 10 applicants in order to
get another training session.
Get well wishes sent to Alan
Baughman, Carol Graham and to Claudia Lucero.
We wish you all a speedy recovery.
And to those who have lost a loved one, you have our deepest sympathy.
Do not forget the meeting on
the 19th of June. Let's have
a great showing.