Defeated Directors Still Spoiling for a Fight

Courtney Caron recently forwarded an email that former RLECWD director Cathy Nelson-Hood sent to her.

Nelson-Hood indicates that an email from union representative Vic Shada proves that promises were made to the Union by Courtney Caron, Frank Caron and Martin Smith during the 2010 elections. In fact, Shada admonishes the three directors for working in the best interests of the district, and -not- the Union.

The “promise” made by the three directors was to end the labor dispute, which was part of their campaign platform. There was never a promise made to work in the Union’s best interests, as the tone and content of the email from Shada indicates. See also the heated response from Frank Caron which further bears this out.

I’m sure in the January 2013 North Country News, Johnson will run the letter from Shada and say that this letter proves the new directors made promises to the union, and therefore the Union’s campaign contributions bought their vote…  but this letter does nothing of the sort.  This letter restates that a promise was made to end the dispute. It also proves that the new directors could not be bought, hence why they were so angry that the new directors were not moving with haste on the labor issues.

Nelson-Hood and Vivien Johnson often went out of their way to try to prove that the three “new” directors were in the pocket of the Union. Instead, they wasted time and money, not working in the best interests of the constituents who elected them.

It’s unfortunate that Nelson-Hood can’t let it go. She continues to create drama and distraction in the community and continues to be so poorly informed about the issues that the voting public has told her to go away.

From: Cathy Nelson-Hood <cathyhood@rocketmail.com>
Subject: email from Vic Shada
To: “Courtney Caron” <courtney.caron@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 2:28 PM

Courtney, Martin and Frank, just found this on the Sacramento court house web site ….this has to be the strangest thing I have seen since I was elected. Not that I didn’t already know why you all were elected I just never thought I would see it in writing. Can’t wait for Viv’s paper to come out.The meeting was good last night. It was nice to know that all the elected officials at least really live here in Rio Linda or Elverta. I am so grateful to have lost the election. It was nice to sit back and watch the discussion.

Sincerely
Cathy Hood

Vic Shada [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][vshacla@teamstersl50.org] From: Vic Shada
To: CCaron@rlecwd.com ; msmith@rlecwd.com ; crnfrnk@yahoo.com ; fcaron@rlecwd.com
Cc: Barbara Schiavone
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 11:40 AM
Subject: Rio Linda employees

Dear Courtney, Frank and Martin:
I am writing to you directly to express the Union ‘s disappointment with the Rio Linda/Elverta Water District Board since the three of you came to power in October of last year. As you know, the three of you were voted in and were supported by the Union and Union members in the area based on your promises to remedy the issues between the employees and the District. Yet, since you have taken over, all we have seen is delay and a worsening of the plight of the employees.
Cutting to the point, the old Board that hated the members were prepared to give the members raises, ratification bonuses and Union health coverage in August of last year. They were prepared to discuss and agree to an MOU. The members did not agree to it, partially, based on your promises that you would come in and remedy the situation. Now, nearly one year later, the members are continued to be paid at absurd rates, while going out of pocket hundreds of dollars for medical care. We are also being told it will take several months for you to review the MOU and agree to those raises, health care changes and bonuses that the old Board agreed to. That is absolutely devastating to the members. At the very least, this Board should agree to economic adjustments while it considers the MOU, as the members are continuing to go out of pocket dramatically and suffer even more. Simply put, this Board has been agreeing to and paying the members the drastically reduced wages and cuts that the three of you so openly objected to prior to the Election and assured the public would not continue once you were elected. Your conduct has been, in essence, worse than the old Board.

I am thus writing to let you know that the members patience is wearing very thin. We need to get an MOU done and we need to improve Labor Relations immediately. If that does not occur, we will have to start taking appropriate action.
In addition to the inexcusable MOU delay, you continue to fail to improve Labor Relations. Mr. Mehta, who you openly tell the members should be fired and does not have their interests in mind, was allowed to be the General Manager for 6 months and continues to be the District counsel, even though his conduct only results in continued litigation. Simply put, we can no longer be appeased by your assurances of help and we need to see action from you of that help for the members’ sake.

Finally, as a recap, the MOU is still an issue, Elizabeth Myers cannot get an appropriate hearing date or settlement offer and Mr. Mehta continues to ignore all grievances and Union protocol. This has to come to an end.

Ultimately, I am the most upset for the members who believed you were going to make appropriate changes and yet you have done nothing and you have taken the employees for granted. I am communicating all of this to you not to create more problems or issues between us, but rather for you to understand the frustration being felt by the members and the Union , and to understand our perspective.

Vic Shada, Teamsters Local 150

From: Courtney J Caron <courtney.caron@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: email from Vic Shada
To: “Cathy Nelson-Hood” <cathyhood@rocketmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 2:58 PM

Cathy,

You are just now seeing this? Then I suppose you have not seen the responses that went out regarding this letter? I am assuming not. I am also assuming that you have not read the deposition testimony in relationship to this letter? This is VERY old news. You should try and actually look into things before you create weird little conspiracy theories in your head and attempt to communicate them. It is very unbecoming.

Had you instead read the responses that went out in regards to this email, you would see that it was made clear, that no promises were made at any time other than to do the best we could to move things along, which is what a board member should do. Further, you would also realize if you took a minute to actually think, that this letter is criticizing us for not moving as quickly as the union had hoped, and apparently for not doing enough, in their opinion. So the theories you all have tooted around town for months, that we were in the union’s hand, is clearly proven wrong by this letter and their lack of support of our decisions. What is clear, is that we did what WE felt was best for the district and NOT what the union pressured. Funny how that is the complete opposite of what you and the other trouble makers went on and on about.

I would be delighted for the community to see this letter because it clearly shows that all the rumors that we did ONLY what the union wanted, or were in the union’s pocket, were blatant lies. Had that been the case, they would not have written such an angry letter. Instead they would have gotten what they wanted, and no letter would have been written at all. But, as is seen here, because we never promised anything, we took our time to make the right decisions, the decisions were not what they had hoped or in their timing, they were upset. Please pass this union letter to everyone. Finally the community will see that the rumors regarding us being in the unions pocket will clearly and obviously be proven to be rumors, lies and a simple conspiracy theory thought up by the uneducated.

Please refrain from emailing me any more of your ridiculous emails, accusations, and harassing statements. I am not longer obligated to appease you or any of your cohorts in any way. I am choosing to only communicate with individuals who use their intelligence for the greater good, and who do their research before sending ridiculous emails.

Thank you,
Courtney Caron

Vic Shada,

It is funny to me that you bad mouth this board, yet it was your origination that waited until changes were made. We have been working on the MOU and doing our do-diligence to complete it in the proper manner for both parties.

As for Liz Myers the union has been dragging their feet in setting up the meeting. We have given you several dates that you keep refusing. This is not the unwillingness of the board but rather of the Union.

As you know 3 board members have outside jobs. Some of us begin work in morning, as early as by 330 a.m. and others extend into the evening. We have put aside our weekends to hear this issue. We have suggested the weekend because you have said that you will need 5 to 6 hours to present your side alone. Another 1or 2 will be required for the district. This will put the hearing well into the early morning if on a weekday. Therefore, only weekends are realistic if you would like a fair hearing for Liz Myers. I hope that is your intention, as it is ours. You have waited so long to resolve this issue and in turn you aloud extended time for the media to run ramped. This has undoubtedly made this situation worse and caused damage to the Meyers family. This was not the doing of the new board members, but of yourself. I am really disappointed of the lack of concern on your part to resolve the issues in a timely manner.

When the MOU is sent to you, remember the haste you want us to act under. Where are you during our meetings to help push this cause forward? Majority of the public has been very pleased with the progress we have made and has a very opposite view from your own.

If you are not part of the solution you are only part of the problem.

Frank Caron