The Facts are:

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CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: Non-sworn members who make up our community of interest are important to the viability of CSLEA, hence strength in numbers.  

TRUTH = Nonsense. Lets dissect this statement into three parts:  

1.      If the non-sworn make up the same community of interest as Peace Officers why does everyone refer to the two groups differently – non-sworn and sworn?  

2.      CAUSE says that the non-sworn are "important to the viability of CSLEA" – of course they are - they make up 60% of the union, and if you separated from them all you would have a real law enforcement unit – like CAHP or CCPOA.  

3.      The conclusion that "hence strength in numbers" is a red herring in that it concludes for you that being with the more numerous is good for you. If there was strength in numbers why doesn’t  CAUSE / CSLEA join SEIU or the Teamsters?  Why aren’t the dispatchers part of the Highway Patrol’s union?

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: CSLEA has an established and powerful political action fund.  

TRUTH = For 15 years Alan Barcelona has been in charge of CAUSE and for 15 years the pay disparity has gotten worse, not better. CAUSE/CSLEA has spent millions of dues money in failed ventures, like the $1 Million Candy Store debacle or the $900,000 spent on unionizing last year trying to take over Campbell’s Soup Employees. Nearly $60,000 was spent trying to elect a county sheriff.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: CSLEA has an established Legal Defense Fund.  

TRUTH = This is a scare tactic from CAUSE. No member will go without LDF; we will negotiate to have PORAC LDF.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  Non-sworn members subsidize many of the CSLEA benefits including LDF, PAC, and administrative defense. 

TRUTH =  And the Peace Officers end up subsidizing the non-sworn pay and retirement.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  PO/FF members receive education incentive, physical fitness pay, and longevity pay as a result of the strength of a 7,000 member association.  

TRUTH = What State Peace Officer doesn’t receive the same or better benefits than Unit 7 Peace Officers? CAUSE / CSLEA has to stretch so far to think of something positive they’ve done that they list benefits that everyone has.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  CSLEA has hired the best consultants, attorneys, labor representatives, and employees to get you the best possible contract and representation.  

TRUTH =  Maybe CAUSE can show us a copy of all their consultants gold stars?  It gets back to the same thing. CAUSE has turned down raises for Peace Officers, if it isn’t true Alan Barcelona could have a chance to set the record straight, under oath, that it never happened.  As it is only his staff and other Board Members deny it – not the President. Wonder why that is???

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  The last severance attempt failed and this campaign has even less of a chance in succeeding.  

TRUTH =  If this Severance campaign doesn’t have a chance to succeed why fight it, why not let PERB (Public Employees Relations Board) determine if there should be a new Bargaining Unit.  The answer is simple – The management at CAUSE is afraid of losing their jobs, so they will try anything to convince you that this won’t work.  There are three reasons that the previous petition failed; we have addressed that below (see last petition under downloads):

1.      Last petition didn’t include all the Peace Officers – this one does;

2.      Last petition BU7 members had never been without a contract – BU7 members have  been without a contract about ½ time since the decision;

3.      The last petition wasn’t filed on time – we have filed on time and PERB has accepted it.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  Timing Is Everything? This severance campaign will delay the negotiating of a new contract. The last severance campaign took years to resolve.  While the issue is being litigated, it is unlikely DPA will desire to reach an agreement for fear that if the severance were to succeed, the agreement would have to be set aside.

TRUTH = If CAUSE / CSLEA agreed now we could hold an election within 30-days.   P.O.C. has stipulated to PERB to hold the election and move forward as quickly as possible.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: Unfunded, Disorganized and Undeveloped ? Where are the constitution and by-laws? How will conflicts be resolved? What will happen if one affiliate’s lobbying at the Capitol disrupts another affiliate’s ability to get a pay raise? What if DPA does not allow every affiliate at the bargaining table? Who will get to go? Who will decide? Will it be the Wardens?  

TRUTH = Check out a copy of our draft bylaws on the webpage. If we’re underfunded, disorganized and undeveloped why are you reading this?

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: No Guarantees ? PORAC has not agreed to contract with P.O.C.  to provide access to an LDF for civil, criminal, or administrative actions filed against you. You will be out in the cold with this new Peace Officer unit.  

TRUTH = Another Red Herring from CAUSE / CSLEA: PORAC is an organization with set dues and will take us if we are a separate bargaining unit, if not we have other law firms lined up to take the job.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: Disingenuous ? P.O.C.  is all about a decertification. Should the severance petition succeed, a representation vote will follow, at which time any association, including the Teamster’s, could vie for exclusive representation.

TRUTH = CAUSE is up to their old tricks again! This is a misleading statement. Severance is not Decertification. We urge you to call PERB and ask them the difference. You can reach them at 916-322-3198 and ask for yourself.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: Insincere? This severance attempt is CFGWA’s response to not receiving the 50% salary adjustment they wanted in the 2006 contract re-opener. 

TRUTH = Typical CAUSE / CSLEA if they can’t find a reason make one up. CAUSE is trying to draw your attention away from the issue at hand – should the Peace Officers represent themselves.  Fish & Game Wardens are a minority on the P.O.C. Board.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS:  No Political Clout ? This new Peace Officer unit would start from zero without the benefit of CLSEA’s political action funds. They are asking for donations just to pursue the severance petition.  

TRUTH = CAUSE / CSLEA hasn’t been able to deliver like other sworn officer unions, they have been under the same leadership for 15 years or more. If they had a real plan it should have worked by now.

CAUSE / CSLEA SAYS: "Strength In Numbers" ? Will become "Weakness by Division."  

TRUTH = If there were really strength in numbers with the non-sworn, why didn’t we join the Teamsters? - What success has the CAUSE / CSLEA had?