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CSEA warns Middletown Unified of labor complaint over reduced hours; board schedules special meeting
Summary
CSEA vice president Emily Kaczmeier told the board the district placed a reduction in a bargaining-unit employee's hours on the agenda without bargaining; she said CSEA issued a cease-and-desist demand and may file with PERB. The district scheduled a special meeting Aug. 11 to address the matter.
Emily Kaczmeier, vice president of CSEA Chapter 228, told the board the union had asked the district to negotiate before reducing an employee’s hours and said the district moved forward without first bargaining. "Any reduction in hours would require an MOU with CSEA," she said, citing the district’s obligation under the Educational Employment Relations Act and Government Code 3543.2.
Kaczmeier said her chapter issued a formal cease-and-desist demand and that "if [Superintendent Crane] continues to move the district forward with this reduction in hours after receiving the cease and desist demand, CSEA will have no choice but to file an unfair practice charge with PERB." She urged the district to maintain the status quo pending negotiations.
Superintendent Crane responded that the district is working with legal counsel and acknowledged a procedural omission in publicly "sunshining" the item. Crane said the district will hold a brief special board meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 11 to address the posting and related items before the scheduled Aug. 31 negotiations.
The board did not take an immediate substantive action in response to the public comment but later moved a personnel change-of-assignment discussion to the Aug. 11 special meeting. Trustees and staff said they want to avoid discussing personnel details in open session and to ensure the bargaining unit has an opportunity to negotiate.
The exchange recorded the union’s formal demand, the district’s pledge to consult counsel, and the board’s scheduling of a short special meeting to resolve the procedural issue ahead of the negotiation date.
