Become a Steward

For several years now, OCEA has been focusing close attention on building its leadership infrastructure. This became necessary back in 2004, when the “2.7% at 55” enhanced pensions provided a retirement incentive for those who had been contemplating separation from their County employment. Although there was no “mass exodus” from OCEA’s leadership ranks, or from the County workforce for that matter, our increased attention to OCEA leadership has continued to pay dividends, and it has provided the springboard for the OCEA’s ongoing “internal organizing” campaign.

One of the key areas of leadership for most unions is that which is centered in their Steward programs. That is true of OCEA as well. OCEA aims to identify and cultivate Stewards who have strong interpersonal skills, are familiar with their MOUs, and exercise good judgment, diplomacy, personal integrity, and loyalty to OCEA. Our Stewards are one of our main pipelines of information from OCEA to our membership. When we need to get the word out on a major activity, such as a demonstration or the OCEA Health Fair, our Stewards are there to help. An effective OCEA Steward is willing to protest management actions that violate the collective bargaining agreement, are arbitrary or unfair, or threaten the health or safety of employees.

OCEA currently has approximately 250 Stewards, and OCEA is continually recruiting and training Stewards. New and current Stewards attend a two-day training to familiarize themselves with the issues they will encounter in their roles as employee advocates.

For those of you who are up to an exciting challenge, OCEA encourages you to apply to become an OCEA Steward!  For further information contact Llesena Ontiveras, OCEA Labor Relations Representative, at lontiveras@oceamember.org, or call Llesena at 714-835-3355.