Public Employee Press

Bargaining News
City moves ahead with clerical hiring pool

As the city complies with the Long Beach court decision by replacing long-term provisionals with appointments from civil service lists, the Clerical Associate title has been a key focus of activity, and the union has been monitoring the process closely. The Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services has been using large hiring pools to fill 1,800 Clerical Associate positions.

“The DC 37 Clerical-Administrative Division has working closely with Local 1549 since this process began,” said Division Director Ronnie Harris. Reps from the division observed the process at pools held in February and March.

“It was very professionally done,” said Grievance Rep Diana Marenfeld. “People were anxious to get into these jobs and they came well prepared.”

Local 1549 member Michelle Robles participated in a pool on March 9. “I took the written test in January 2008 and the typing test later, so I had only been on the list about five months when I received notice about the hiring pool,” she said.

Robles was fortunate that her aunt, a city employee, had underscored the importance of taking the civil service test to protect her job. Many others heeded warnings from DC 37 about the impending implementation of the court decision.

Languishing on the list at the Health Dept., Robles was on the lookout for a broader range of opportunities. “I wanted something where I could learn and expand my skills,” she said. “I wanted an agency that would respect me for my expertise, knowledge and professionalism, despite my youth.”

She brought the notice from DCAS, two pens, and copies of her resumé to the pool. “It was nerve-wracking and frightening to interview with potential employers when you could be let go at any time in the future. I was incredibly relieved when I learned that the Human Resources Administration wanted to hire me.”

The pool, she said, was “crowded, loud and chaotic, with people scrambling from table to table, résumés in hand, doing interview after interview.” But in the end, it was all worthwhile.

Robles started her new job April 12 at HRA’s Office of Child Support Enforcement. After training, she will assist with client intake and case management.

“Considering that I was thrust into this tight-knit group of people, they have been very welcoming and accommodating. The offices and employees are organized, pleasant and professional,” she said.