YUBA CITY
Yuba Community College District reaches landmark agreement with part-time faculty union
The Yuba Community College District (YCCD) and the Yuba College – American Federation of Teachers (YC-AFT) recently finalized a groundbreaking three-year contract (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027) following nearly two years of negotiations. The District’s Board of Trustees ratified the agreement on Thursday, June 13.
The new contract leverages state resources to provide health benefits to YCCD part-time faculty, contingent on ongoing reimbursement from the statewide healthcare program. In addition, the contract commits the District, over time, to making progress towards pay parity for part-time faculty in proportional reference to that of the full-time faculty. As a unique feature, the part-time faculty members will, under this agreement, hold office hours in accordance with their assigned loads.
“This agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to our students,” said YCCD Board President Sue Alves. “By ensuring equitable compensation and access to health benefits, we are not only supporting our dedicated part-time faculty but also enhancing the educational experience for our students. This agreement reflects our dedication to fostering a strong and dynamic teaching and learning environment.”
This landmark agreement reflects the dedication and partnership of both YCCD and YC-AFT. District Chief Negotiator, Jake Hurley, and YC-AFT Chief Negotiator, Joseph Radding, hail the collaborative work as a shared commitment to the success and well-being of students and faculty.
The District remains dedicated to fair and collaborative negotiations, continuing to engage in good-faith discussions with the union representing its full-time faculty.
For more information, please visit the YCCD website at https://www.yccd.edu.
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WASHINGTON D.C.
Padilla statement on vote to ban bump Stock
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the BUMP Act to reimplement the ban on bump stocks.
“Once again, Senate Republicans have shown the country that they stand firmly in the pocket of the gun lobby over protecting American lives. As the gun violence epidemic continues to tear families apart, Senate Republicans have inexplicably landed to the right of even Donald Trump today by refusing to reimplement the bump stock rule set under the Trump Administration. A rifle equipped with a bump stock functions as a machine gun and the device enabled the deadliest shooting in our nation’s history in Las Vegas.
“No one needs a weapon that can fire up to 800 rounds per minute. And I won’t stop fighting for commonsense legislation that honors our commitment to safety for Californians and all Americans.”
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SANTA ROSA
Keeping local restaurants cooking: The PG&E Corporation Foundation funds Restaurants Care Resilience grants
For the fourth consecutive year, The PG&E Corporation Foundation (PG&E Foundation) is providing grants to support independent restaurant owners and their staffs through the California Restaurant Foundation’s (CRF) Restaurants Care Resilience Fund. And for the first time, commercial caterers are now eligible to apply for the grants.
The PG&E Foundation is contributing $900,000 this year to help build more resilient hometown businesses for the long term. The contribution will fund $5,000 grants to 154 restaurants and commercial caterers in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) service area.
In total, CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund will provide grants across California of nearly $1.4 million to 278 independent restaurants this year. The $5,000 grants can be used to support vital business needs, including technology and equipment upgrades, employee training and retention, and unforeseen hardships. The grants reflect a commitment to strengthen restaurants so that they can continue contributing to local economies and communities.
CRF officials said that this year’s decision to open the grants to commercial caterers was based on appeals for support with catering companies noting that they too are a part of the local food scene.
Since 2021, PG&E and the PG&E Foundation have contributed $3.2 million in funding to the CRF’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund providing grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.
Last year, the PG&E Foundation funded $5,000 grants to 154 hometown restaurants in Northern and Central California. One of the grant recipients was La Cheve Bakery and Brews.
“Our restaurant is in a small historic building in Napa and is known for our bustling brunch. Kitchen space is tight, which has posed challenges in keeping up with guest orders,” said Cinthya Cisneros, owner of La Cheve Bakery and Brews. “We used our Resilience Fund grant to invest in a crucial addition to our kitchen equipment, which has significantly boosted our capacity and elevated guest service. Receiving the grant made us feel acknowledged and valued by our community.”
Apply now through June 30
Resilience Fund applications will be open June 15 through June 30, 2024, and can be found at www.restaurantscare.org/resilience. Grants are open to all California-based restaurant owners and commercial caterers in PG&E’s service area that have fewer than five locations and less than $3 million in annual revenue. Priority will be given to restaurants that have not previously received a grant; however, former recipients can also apply.
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