To keep your collective bargaining rights, you must VOTE YES in the upcoming PERC election to keep your contract. Ballots will be MAILED beginning September 15th and must be returned by mail no later than October 4″ for counting on October 14, 2026. Instructions for filling out and returning them are in the provided envelope. If you need help in Spanish, call the office.

All employees classified as Support Staff MUST vote on the PERC elections. No one can take away your contract and bargaining rights, unless you let them!

Do Not Toss this envelope graphic in English.
Do Not Toss this envelope graphic in Spanish.

What’s at Stake?

Without a contract, you risk losing:

  • Protective language for seniority, changes in allocation and reduction in force.

  • Right to representation in meetings

  • 0.76 differential for ESE paraprofessionals

  • Pay for substituting in the classroom

  • All stipends

  • Right to file grievances

OCEA will still be here for members. You will still have access to legal services and all the member benefits and services that come with your membership, but we will lose the legal authority to negotiate for your salary, benefits, and working conditions.

So how does this PERC election work?

  • 1

    If PERC does not receive 50% plus 1 ballots, they will not have to open them, and the ESP contract will become NULL in the following 15 days after the election.

  • 2

    If the ESP contract becomes null, OCEA will still be here for the members and will be able to provide attorneys for DCF and Law enforcement investigations at no extra cost.

  • 3

    If the ESP contract is gone, OCEA will not be able to file grievances for unfair working conditions, workload, seniority, evaluations, etc. All that language is in the contract, and if it’s gone, there will be nothing to grieve. Also,

  • 4

    OCEA will not have the legal authority to bargain with the district for your benefits, salaries and working conditions. You will become an At-will employee. Whatever the employers says, goes.

  • 5

    If the contract disappears, and the tax referendum passes in November, the agreement that has been made to use that money for all employees of the ESP unit will not be valid. (MOU attached)

  • 6

    If PERC receives enough ballots, but the majority is not in favor of keeping OCEA, the same things will happen.

  • 7

    If the election is in favor of OCEA, the contract will be saved for all and bargaining will happen again next year, BUT if the member density is not up to 60% by next May, we will be in this same situation next year. So, the best bet to keep your contract is to become a member of OCEA.

September OCEA Newsletter