Founding and Early Years

The Orange County Employees Association was founded by County employees in 1937, for the purpose of advancing the welfare of County employees and their families.  Although the Association was small at first, it grew and evolved into a strong organization which provided a great deal to its members.

In 1960, OCEA hired a General Manager and became incorporated under California law. The first General Manager, John Sawyer, had extensive experience in labor relations, which he gained while working for corporations in the private sector.  He received his law degree from the University of Michigan and was licensed to practice law in both Michigan and California.  His skills were a tremendous asset as OCEA moved from informal dealings with the County and began to bargain formally under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, beginning in 1969.

Volunteer Leaders

OCEA’s volunteer leadership continued to formulate the basic direction and policies of OCEA.  The OCEA of today owes a huge debt of gratitude to OCEA’s volunteer leaders of that era.  The benefits of their knowledge and wisdom are still felt today.  Their contributions are the bedrock of OCEA’s present independence and strength.

In recent decades, as the County’s workforce rapidly grew, so did membership in OCEA. Members and staff worked with “elbow grease” and zeal to make OCEA ever stronger, with increased services and benefits.

To this day, OCEA members believe that working together with supervisors, managers, and fellow employees is the most efficient and effective way to gain benefits for employees.  Wherever possible, OCEA has followed this course of action.  When necessary, though, our members have not hesitated to stand together in picketing, demonstrations, use of the news media, and other shows of solidarity.

Professional Staff

OCEA now has a full-time, professional staff of skilled personnel.  They are capable of aiding OCEA’s members in the most difficult and sensitive situations.  Our staff includes attorneys, salary and benefit analysts, communications specialists, and other personnel skilled in various specialties, as well as effective and dedicated office services support.

Nonetheless, it is OCEA’s members, and not its staff, who have been responsible for OCEA’s strength, growth, and accomplishments.  Without our membership, OCEA would not exist.  It is only through the commitment and involvement of our members, and the large number of them who have been chosen through the years as leaders, that we have remained rock solid and independent since 1937.

Always Moving Forward

OCEA is always moving forward.  We have gone from occupying one room in an old house, to constructing and owning (since 1974) our own headquarters.  We have moved from offering our members representation and a single term-life insurance policy, to providing a wide range of programs and services.

OCEA now represents not only employees of the County of Orange, but other groups of employees within the County as well, including employees of many cities and special districts.

OCEA works hard to maintain and improve salaries, benefits, and working conditions for public employees in Orange County.  Additionally, OCEA is committed to providing a wide range of other services and benefits—programs which help a member’s dollars go farther and which make a member’s life outside of work more enjoyable.  Through special arrangements with vendors, we offer discounts on Southern California attractions and special events, discounts from local merchants, and insurance plans not available to non-members.

Another way we serve our members is through Velece Corporation.  Velece is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OCEA.  Velece is dedicated to offering quality insurance (car, home, boat, and other kinds of insurance) at low prices.

As we move further into the present millennium it will be exciting to see OCEA continue to grow, to move forward, and to lead the way!

Improvements in Salary and Benefits

Over the years, OCEA has secured extensive improvements in salary levels for Orange County employees.  Other benefits OCEA negotiated for County employees include biweekly pay; disability leave of absence; pregnancy leave improvements; unlimited accrual of sick leave; increases in retirement allowances; additional paid holidays; grievance procedures; accrual of up to 40 days of vacation time; accrual of compensatory time balances; procedures establishing and protecting employee rights in disciplinary matters; vast improvements in medical insurance coverage paid for by the County; retiree medical insurance; introduction of optional prepaid medical plans; two weeks of vacation for one to three years of service; three weeks of vacation for up to ten years of service; four weeks of vacation for ten years of service; and many other new programs and improvements which are designed to enhance the working conditions and quality of life of all County employees.