LAKE COUNTY
Auditions for Neil Simon’s ‘California Suite’
The Lake County Theatre Company is pleased to announce open auditions for its fall comedy, “California Suite.” This play is actually four short playlets featuring guests of the same suite in the Beverly Hills Hotel. Each couple that inhabits suite 203 brings their own unique set of problems, anxieties, and marital strife. The script is rich with witty banter and physical comedy, as only Neil Simon can write it. LCTC is seeking five women and five men to fill the roles. Performers who are new to theater are strongly encouraged to try out! Audition materials are on the LCTC facebook page, or on our website, www.lctc.us. Actors will be asked to read small portions of the script at auditions.
“California Suite” features four directors, one for each scene. Jenna Rodgers, Adam McGee, Rod Rehe, and Lisa Wentz are joining up with Tim Barnes, lead director, to bring the stories of these quirky couples to life on stage this fall.
Auditions will be held Monday, August 26 from 6 to 7pm at the Lake County Arts Council at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport. “California Suite” opens October 18 and runs through October 27. For more information, call Tim Barnes at 707-972-5787.
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YUBA CITY
Judge rules Yuba Community College District broke the law, infringed on workers’ rights
The Faculty Association of the Yuba Community College District (Association) is pleased to announce a significant victory for our members following a ruling by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The Board has found that the Yuba Community College District (District) violated the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) and the workers’ rights by unilaterally eliminating long-established seniority rights of full-time faculty (PERB, Unfair Practice Case No. SA-CE-3108-E).
The PERB ruling unequivocally supports the Association’s position that the District’s actions were a direct violation of the rights of our faculty and undermined the collective bargaining process.
These seniority rights are a critical component of our faculty’s ability to secure fair, consistent assignments and to ensure the most experienced and qualified professors are entrusted to teach classes. The District’s unilateral decision to remove this right was unjust, unlawful, and according to Kevin Ferns, the Association’s Lead Negotiator, “The District’s unilateral action was an underhanded attempt to take away rights that both sides had agreed upon for the past 30+ years. We are hopeful this decision will compel the District to come back to the table and negotiate with us in good faith. Two years, too long.”
Key findings of the PERB ruling:
–The District violated EERA section 3543.5, subdivision (c), by changing the procedure for assigning classes to full-time faculty without proper negotiation with the Association.
–The District also violated subdivisions (a) and (b) of EERA by interfering with the Association’s right to represent bargaining unit employees and the employees’ right to representation.
PERB Orders the District to Take Corrective Action:
The PERB ruling mandates that the District take several affirmative actions to rectify its violations, including:
- Cease and Desist: The District must immediately cease eliminating existing procedures for course assignments and interfering with the Association’s representation rights.
- Rescind Unilateral Changes: Within 30 days, the District is ordered to rescind its September 1, 2022, elimination of the right of first refusal and reinstate the previous procedures.
- Bargain in Good Faith: The District is required to bargain in good faith with the Association over the relevant articles of the collective bargaining agreement.
- Make-Whole Remedy: The District must compensate the Association and affected employees for any losses incurred as a result of the violations, with interest.
One step forward, two steps back?
“This ruling is a resounding affirmation of the importance of collective bargaining and the protections it affords workers,” said Travis Smith, the President for the Faculty Association. “We are committed to ensuring that our members’ rights are respected and upheld. The District’s actions not only disrupted the professional lives of our members but undermined the collaborative spirit that is essential for the success of our educational community.”
Despite a clear and resounding ruling, the District announced in a campus email its intention to appeal this decision. “Unfortunately, the District seems intent on continuing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer resources on lawyers to pursue their meritless legal arguments dragging out contract negotiations and whittling-away at morale. It’s a real shame,” emphasized Travis Smith.
The Faculty Association remains steadfast in its dedication to advocating for the rights of our members and ensuring that the District honors its legal obligations. We look forward to working constructively with the District to implement this ruling, negotiate a fair contract, and prevent future violations of our collective bargaining rights.
YCCD full-time faculty have been working under an expired contract for more than 2 years. For further information or media inquiries, please contact Travis Smith at (916) 505-6876 or tsmith@yccd.edu .
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