Fellow members,
Wow! What a crazy week! We found ourselves dropped into the middle of a war against an unseen enemy that we really know very little about and with no apparent plan of attack, requiring us to as fluid as the situation in our response. I have to say that I am very proud of your initial reactions. Yes, we are concerned about our communities, anxious about our health and the health of our families and yet we stayed committed to each other and adapted to the changing conditions around us. As new information becomes available we are trying to get it to you in a timely manner. The leaders of all the City’s 11 bargaining units have a conference call meeting scheduled with the Director of the Office of Employee Relations on March 23 at 10 a.m. to discuss the City’s response and plans for the upcoming weeks. The City of San Jose issues two flash reports a day, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. with updates regarding Covid-19.
So, as of Friday, March 20this is what I know:
- The shelter in place order is in effect until April I personally believe that this will extend to the end of April at the earliest so please be prepared.
- Housing is considered essential infrastructure and as our job is to inspect that housing we are considered essential personnel. We will continue to inspect only new housing, including unoccupied ADU and demo/rebuild of homes in existing neighborhoods. On Friday morning a Field Inspection Protocol was issued to each inspector outlining an agreement between management and I on safe procedures for inspectors working in the field. Please follow these directions.
- Both essential and no-essential personnel are covered by HR 6021. If you need an accommodation please contact your Supervisor.
- As a means of addressing how to service some of our more basic inspections during this time the Department is working on establishing video inspections. This is still experimental and I have requested a written proposal with a how, what, when, who outline to present to the board. As I know more I will share with you-in the two meetings I have been present in the conversation is regarding water heaters, FAU and minor kitchen and bathroom remodels. If you have any thoughts or suggestions regarding this please let your steward or an E-Board member know. Please use the ABMEI website to contact us with these ideas.
- I know that there is concern about layoffs. Reduction of staff through layoff during the Covid-19 response is NOT being considered by the City to my knowledge. The Department wants to retain all the staff we currently employ and I have had no conversation with the Director or Assistant Director that makes me believe otherwise. Should we be concerned about the long term economic effect this shutdown may have on the construction industry? Of course, but let’s concentrate on one crisis at a time.
- This time is offering an opportunity for training in small groups. One item of training will be on the upcoming conversion to electronic tags and our IT personnel is getting this out to a handful of inspectors. Let us know your ideas for other trainings.
In closing I ask that you be patient as this situation is very fluid, be flexible and adaptable and be kind to one another.
“The true measure of a person is not how he/she behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he/she stands in time of controversy and challenges”- Martin Luther King, Jr
Proud to serve as your President,
Mary Reed