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Union executive’s paycheck rivals that of county supervisors
January 5th, 2009, 6:30 am · 111 Comments · posted by Teri Sforza, Register staff writer
The head of the Orange County Employees Association - the largest union covering county workers - took in $201,185 in the last fiscal year, according to the union’s tax returns.
That rivals checks cut for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, with whom the union is locked in battle over looming layoffs. Each supes’ base salary is $143,031; their total compensation exceeds $200,000 a year, once all benefits are thrown in.
The union’s general manager, Nick Berardino, said that his pay is the product of history. In 1959, the union’s board of directors decided to tie its executive’s salary to that of the county’s personnel director, and it has been that way ever since.
The county’s personnel director earns a little shy of $186,000; Berardino, a little shy of $182,000.
“The purpose of that was so the general manager could be recruited from the same talent pool, and to cap the GM’s salary,” Berardino said. “In addition to his salary, the personnel director gets a car allowance of $765 a month, which is $9,120 a year; and he gets an additional $4,500 in an optional benefit plan.
“I get no car allowance, no mileage, no optional benefit plan. My retirement plan is about 1.2 percent (of salary) at (age) 65, compared to their 2.7 percent at 55. Hey, I’ll trade my salary and benefits program for theirs tomorrow.
“Here’s the point,” he said. “We are unable to provide to myself or our staff anywhere near the benefit package that the county’s executives and managers and even the rank and file members get. We just can’t afford to do that.”
The union’s tax return lists $201,185 as Berardino’s compensation - more than his salary - because it includes other cash payments, he said.
Nerves are raw today as layoff notices are delivered to hundreds of county social workers. The county is struggling to plug an $86 million hole in its budget.
For more on the union’s finances, click here.
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Is this anything more than a diversion from the real issue here(?); that being a lack of leadership within the county government. Apparently it is time to POST the salary of each board member and all department heads. It is also time to remember that Mr. Berardino is responsible for 14,000 county employees/OCEA members and that he takes that responsibility to heart. That is HEART in case any of the so called leaders in the County need to look it up. So, to the Chairman of the Board and company, maybe it is time to get back to work and try to save at least one of the soon to be laid off county employees job. To date, “Thanks for nothing.”
The public isn’t as naive as the Board of Supervisors or County executives would like to think. This information does not in any way distract the public from the real issue which is, irresponsible executive spending and lack of leadership and stewardship. Sounds, smells and looks like this Board is looking to minimize their complicity in shamming the public about their salaries and perks as they shamelessly tell county employees that they have no money in the budget to save jobs and plead poverty to all those taxpayers who will be losing vital services.
Very interesting that this comes up now, when the BoS and many in management are getting away with receiving a lot more in salary and perks when added up. It’s a smokescreen to get away from the real issues. As Bendix said, Nick Berardino does a heck of a lot more for county employees than the BoS ever thought of doing.
Today is the day the SSA folks find out about their layoffs. It’s disgusting that this is happening, especially now, when there are more people (not just illegals!) that desperately need SSA services. In the meantime, the fatcats on the BoS and more than a few management types continue to rake in the $$ and spend it on remodels, lining their own pockets, and on enhanced benefits that the rest of the employees have to pay for.
By the way, Teri Sforza, go to the OCEA website at: http://www.oceamember.org/homepage.htm and read what’s posted there. If you go back to the 12/20/08 information, you can see that the HCA is looking to be the next department to get mangled. It’s another case of bad timing, just like SSA cuts. When so many people will need services, either now or in the future because their lives have been negatively affected by the economy, this is not the time to do this.
When’s the next election? We need to get rid of the current BoS!
Hypocrites! You bark and bark about what people are paid and the perks they have negotiated over the years, then flippantly escuse what Nick B. makes as “deserved”. Heart? Nick is a bully, liar, and self-serving grandstanding meglomaniac.
He should be paid more. It is 5 against one after all..
Wow thats good pay for making buttons and t-shirts! oh and of course telling lies and using a bullhorn….
Funny, Mr. Smith Too, that sounds like the requirements to be on the BoS.
I’m not a County employee, but from what I see from the outside, Nick Berardino may be a Union official but he does a heck of a lot more for the employees than the BoS ever thought of.
Nick’s primary job is to rachet up the pay & benefits of his flock to ridiculous heights while inciting the trough feeders to civil disturbance whenever their inflated salaries, benefits and retirement packages are threatened. He’s a white Al Sharpton. For that he makes over $201,000 a year and then has the nerve to claim that county executive managers are overpaid! haha. This guy deserves a skit on SNL.
Yep. Just sitting here at my desk trying to work on cases while my layoff notice is brought to me. I just want my job. I don’t make that much money for God’s sake. I love my job and serving ALL the people that come in to get help. I’m sorry to say not everyone likes their jobs, and God forbid you have to be at their mercy when one day YOU have to appply for services. It’s been a pleasure serving the OC people; I truly am a Social Worker, not just one who got the title because they were grandfathered in 20 years ago, after dropping out of High School. But those are the people the Union fights to keep. The ones who have just been here longer regardless of job performance or education. OC Watchdog: do a study of how many of the “social Workers” in the Familiy Self Suffiency” dept of SSA actually have a college degree. You’ll be SHOCKED!
I agree with ocobserver.
Irvine Reader:
You don’t know the sullied history of OCEA. Rigged elections to their board, ouster of dissidents (anyone who dares to speak contrary to the party line). Political Action Committees that fund only liberal candidates without input from members. Selling members long term disablilty insurance (OCEA is actually an insurance company [Velice Corp] first and a union second) and then denying almost 100% of all claims as they are also the arbritrator of final decision, and sadly, surrounding themselves with some of the worst county employees who file excessive worker’s comp claims or who have been investigated for wrongdoing on the job over and over.
You mean that union officials are paid almost as much as management officials? Oh, the horror!
what is the union mantra? …..oh ya,….Cut From the Top!
So, the guy works his toochus off 7 days a week for 25 years and earns a good salary as a result. Obviously the union members are pleased with his work, they pay him, not the taxpayers. Where’s the problem or even a comparison to the Supes?
2belaidoff,
don’t feel too sorry for yourself. there are millions of private sector workers whose unemployment benefits have already run out. that’s what happens in a severe economic recession. people lose their jobs. why should you be immune? oh, and a degree in social sciences is pretty much worthless these days. I feel sorry for anyone who paid tens of thousands of dollars to get one. especially the new grads with a $30k outstanding student loan and zero prospects for work other than holding a arrow sign on a streetcorner pointing toward an auto dealership.
Mr. Smith Too: I may not know the history of the OCEA but, at this point, County employees desperately need it’s help in order to keep jobs. I don’t care about union B.S. I’ve had union jobs and I know there are problems with the Union representatives - that happens with all unions.
I know a lot of County employees. Most all of them are not like what you described: filing excessive worker’s comp claims or doing the wrong thing. Most of them work their rear ends off and do what they can to help the public. Most of them don’t get paid all that well, especially considering the cost of living in Orange County.
I hope OCEA can help them keep their jobs. At this point in time, it’s a real mistake to cut back services to the public. While Nick Berardino may not always be right, I think the Union’s position of “Chop at the Top” is the smartest thing to do. It’s a tragedy as to what’s now going on with regular employees. Those at the top are not in the trenches working for the public everyday, so they are the ones that either need a reduction in pay/bonuses/freebies/etc., not the rank-and-file.
They aren’t talking about AFSCME, the most useless union in the history of the world. Nicky there is the head of the MANAGEMENT union, folks, not the rank and file caseworkers. The people who help the citizens of the county, the ones who help get your mom into a nursing home or coverage for your pregnancy? Yeah, we have a crap union. The BoS are corrupt. The only people feeding at the trough at SSA is management. They learned NOTHING from the bankruptcy, and they failed in their primary jobs. This fiscal crisis is no shock to anyone with a brain. I knew when Arnie the Idiot was elected as governor that this state was in trouble. You don’t need a crystal ball, folks, just a brain. The BoS has been served by the money and the people of OC long enough. It’s time to recall them, fire Mauk and his entire crew, including Harita, Riley and the others, and bring in a team of serious public servants who are willing to really look at how to stretch a dollar. For those of you thinking that the caseworkers being laid off are over paid? I make $42,000 a year, guys, and I have a degree. I work hard and I have met and mastered every challenge the feds and the state threw at us. It is Mauk, and his elite crew of corruption, who have FAILED in their jobs. They are as sick, and sad, as those auto execs and Wall Street guzzlers. Recall them, fire them! Let all of them pack and leave, because they are the ones who failed, not us.
Irvine reader:
If you’re going to chop at the top, why not ask Nick to chop about $30k off his salary? That would save a job for one of his flock. Don’t you think he could survive on $171,000 versus $201,000 a year? Is that asking for too much? Nick’s on top. Time for him to take a little ‘chop’ too. Fair is fair.
The difference I see between Beradino’s Pay and the BOS compensation is Beradino’s pay is not funded with my tax money. Wake up citizens of Orange County. Get out and vote in the next election. Let’s seat a new BOS.
fedupinoc? Why wait? Recall them. Fire Mauk, recall the board. Seat a new board of serious people with serious focus.
fedupinoc,
but there’s nothing stopping Nick from deducting $30k from his salary and giving it to one of his flock who is about to lose his/her job. he’s the one who came up with the slogan ‘chop at the top’. he’s on top with his $201k salary. time for him to walk his talk and put his money where his mouth is. but you won’t see him do that. his new slogan should be “chop at the top as long as I don’t take the pop” haha!
No matter what happens, Nick still gets his paycheck. That is what a union is all about. Paying out money to someone to “manage” the union and taking money out of the pockets of the union members.
Nick’s salary? Paid by union members.
Tom Mauk, Ingrid Harita, Michael Riley and the Board of Non-Supervisors? Paid by taxpayers.
Nick? Somewhat successful in his job.
The Cabal of Corruption and Stupid? Failed in all the primary aspects of theirs. Learned nothing from the bankruptcy, spent tax dollars on self interests and took freebies.
Nick? Protecting interests of his workers while protecting his own.
The Cabal of Corruption and Stupid? Protecting their own interests to the detriment of the taxpayers, the poor and their workers.
Any questions on who should be hitting the bricks?
Either way, all are grossly, perhaps criminally, overpaid.
ocobserver,
I am not feeling sorry for myself. I feel sorry for the people who come to these offices looking for help and will find it extra-difficult to do so. My degree is not worthless in the real world. Only in the county world of layoffs. You shouldn’t be so ignorant to discard education, perhaps you do so because you’re a HS dropout? I know I will find a job, I’ve always been employed and never been in this situation. Perhaps I will hand you OCOBSERVER a bag of groceries or a blanket one day when YOU need help.
caseworkerssa,
So what if Nick’s $201k salary is paid by union members? That’s even better reason for him to return some of his flock during the hard times. He could save a union member’s job with a $30k donation and still live like a rich man on $171k a year! Why doesn’t Nick lead by example? Wouldn’t his words have much greater meaning if he did what he is asking the BOS to do? If Nick truly stands behind the union members he will make a personal sacrifice for them. That’s why I scoff him. He’s just another big-mouthed phony! You see it too. You just won’t admit to it! haha.
Nick speaks for the “working class” so that the BOS and top ADmin do not run over them. Just look at what is happening to this country, Greed from Wall Street, CEO’s and Top Admin. The working class is getting F…d!
2belaidoff:
so? the ones who need help can stand in line a little longer and the county employees who keep their jobs can be thankful and work a little harder. the world is not coming to an end. the world adapts. so will the county. If during the good times the county laid SS workers off due to smaller caseloads (i.e. lower unemployment rates and more prosperity) I would buy your argument. But they don’t. so tough it out like everyone else must do. keep a stiff upper lip like the private sector employees are forced to do. you’re job is no more important than a private sector job. the private sector employee has a family to feed and a mortgage to pay too!
ocobserver…Nick has already offered a cut in his pay. He was among the first to offer to not only forgo his raise, but to take a 10% cut. Furthermore, the workers at SSA have dealt with this before. It’s been YEARS since we had any kind of a decent raise. You seem to think that we’re all lounging around, eating bon bons and sipping champagne. Well, we are NOT. We are mastering new state case law, juggling caseloads of 375-2400 cases per worker, meeting and exceeding the accuracy rates. Did you know that Orange County’s workers have among the highest accuracy rates in the state? We save taxpayer dollars by preventing fraud and errors, and we bust our humps to do it.
What’s wrong with this is that while AIG execs party hardy, and auto execs fly in private jets to beg for money from taxpayers, and the BoS spend MILLIONS of tax dollars redecorating their conference rooms, offices and break room, in the middle of a financial meltdown, they all want to lay off the people who DO THE REAL WORK, and not take any hits. Tom Mauk is a fraud and a failure. FIRE HIM! His salary would save dozens of worker jobs.
You’re pretty smug, there, bud, but when the time comes that you need one of us, you might not be so sure that you’re right. After all, I doubt that Mauk, Harita, Riley or the board will come down and take your application. But I will. All any of us ask is that the corruption and lies stop, and the truth be told, and the upper elite take their pain with the rest of us. How can anyone disagree with that? To me, Mauk should be working at a put-it-together-yourself desk from Ikea, in a closet, if that’s what it takes to serve the people…all the people…of this county. That’s his effin’ JOB! He failed at it. So fire him!
I always found it odd how much union leaders earned. It seems like everybody get rich off the backs of the working class. I had one union job six months when I was in college. I understand the importance of the union, however, I always felt that unions were just another way for somebody else to make a buck off of the members.
2belaidoff and caseworkerSSA,
Thank you for all the hard work you do and I know of many citizens of orange county who have benefitted from the fact that people like you have sacrificed to choose this profession, including taking the time to get an education.
Unfortunately, there are many ignorant people posting on this site who obviously don’t value education or service to others. Or else they just have no idea what they are talking about.
Of course your layoffs will have a ripple down effect that extends far beyond people having to stand in lines longer. We are talking about needed services for abused and neglected children, such as investigating abuse, finding safe foster homes, helping parents rehabilitate themselves to reunite, finding adoptive homes for those who can’t. We are talking about financial assistance to single mothers who have fled from abusive relationships or families who are homeless and on the streets. You are not paid enough for all that you do for others.
Your job holds tremendous value that cannot be quantified by your pay.
And your union reps salary is completely irrelevant to what the BOS is doing to this county.
Finally, the laziest people in government today, the Orange County Employees, will get their taste of reality. After so many years of getting raises and perks for being a county employee, you will realize what it means to be expendable. For so many years, I heard friends and family who told me how much work time they actually wasted. Not to mention the PTO and vacation time that they accumulated, and the sick days they ‘had’ to use. I even had a friend by the name of Angelica who stated that her work day consisted of picking up the dry cleaning of her boss, running errands for her mom, and taking 3 hour lunches. Why dont they talk about that when they show county employees on the news? I am sorry, but just like my job, I have to earn my check. And county employees dont do that. How is it that I have a degree from a 4 year university, yet most county employees, especially at HSA, make more then me, sometimes twice as much? They are all high school rejects who could not cut it in the real world, yet they thrive in county jobs? Why is that? That is why I hope that everyone drowns in their own crap. You people made this mess by thinking you were untouchable. Well guess what? You are touchable, and now you are screwed. Next time someone offers you a lot for nothing, think twice. So long county employees. Get a real job.
Nick has worked for OCEA for over thirty years. His salary as GM is tied to the salary of the Human Resources Director. The OCEA Board of Directors tied the two salaries in 1959 so the employees could recruit at least the same caliber of staff to represent them as the County. In addition the salary is capped at that level so that future Boards could not increase it. His salary fell behind the Human Resouces Director and his benefits are way below the Human Resource Director. But Berardino refused an increase in salary to get back on par with the Human Resource Director this year. He is a tough fighter and is known to never give up. This salary thing is only a diversionary tactic to get the light off the managers and the Board.
caseworkerssa,
the fact that you are posting and not working your ssa job tells us that layoffs are needed badly at your organization. if you have time to waste while the taxpayers are paying you then it’s time to cut, cut, cut!
Nick offered to take a 10% pay cut? Did he actually take it or not? haha. If he did that would mean that he was making upwards of $220k a year on the backs of the union members. If he didn’t that means he’s full of it, just as I thought.
AIG is a aberration of the private sector. They account for .00000000000000000000000000001% of all private sector workers. I agree that the CEO’s at AIG should be either be sitting before a jury or in jail, as with the rest of the Wall Street crooks. No argument here. At least I’m consistent. Something that can’t be said for Uncle Nick and his trough feeders. That’s for sure.
I won’t be needing your services because I don’t depend upon the government for my survival. I would never ask you for a dime or a meal. Trust me.
Mauk and Moorlach are doing what they’re paid to do. To protect the taxpayer. Both have my full support. If Moorlach runs for higher office I will personally knock on doors for him. He is the only supe that is proactive in protecting the OC taxpayer. We need more just like him.
Hey wait a minute; you’re comparing elected officials salaries with the union chief who is engaged in a private enterprise. Just because the union management is hired and paid by public employees to assist in labor negotiations and other business, their employment is not remotely in the same category as individuals working in the public sector. So what is your point?
Clearly, there is a legitimate interest in the papers reporting on the expenditure of taxpayer dollars, including salaries of its public servants. However, labor representatives are hired as private sector employees whose salaries are not deemed to be a property right, as is the case with public employees.
All of this means that they (the union manager) can be hired or fired at will and whose salary is really a matter between the union management and the individuals who hire him. As private sector employees their wages and working conditions are not a matter of government oversight.
So while you are reporting private sector salaries perhaps you would like to disclose to your readers the salary and benefits of your editor in chief and other OC Register managers.
After all, fair is fair, right? I’m only espousing the libertarian point of view of which your paper purportedly embraces.
Hey Jim.
The Register, for better or worse, is not a nonprofit corporation. It’s not required to dislcose its finances.
The union, however, is a nonprofit corporation, and its tax returns are a matter of public record. Nonprofits, as you know, get tax breaks from Uncle Sam that regular companies do not.
And also for the record, the political leanings of the Register’s editorial page have no bearing on our news reporting. We’re very separate, believe me.
wakeup,
The supes were elected by the people. they had to actually RUN for office and spend their own money to gain their positions. They earned it. Nick is a political puppet. The fact that he is paid more ($201k specifically) than a supe on the backs of the union members and refuses to sacrifice $30k of his fat salary to save the job of one of his flock tells us everything we need to know. He’s a phony. Like Frankenstein pointing his finger at Dracula! haha. And apparently the union members are so devoid of brain cells that they can’t figure that out on their own!
This is how it works….first you get caught not doing your job after many years at the county, next you stop by OCEA and self elect yourself as “Steward” from here you get some extra service credits and a false sense of empowerment. Now you become armed with pathetic tactics like “I’m being singled out”
“my manager is a racist” and ” I’m being harrased” to get out of any disciplinary actions. Then once a year you get to wear your red t-shirt and march around like a union drones.
For your information, ocobserver, I am on my flex day. Not working. So, score one for your ignorance. You say you would never depend on us now, but tell me, if you were felled by a stroke, or placed in a nursing home, you might need us. Whether you do or not, why so hostile? We work hard, and we get paid very little. We don’t do this job for money, we do it because we are committed to service.
Further, Mauk is a fraud. He spent HALF A MILLION DOLLARS of taxpayer money to redecorate his office. Yeah, baby, that’s some protection there. Ohh, wow, it’s like living in Illinois around here, with all the corruption. Moorlach and Mauk are spending like drunken sailors in Bangkok, then have the nerve to look surprised that there was a meltdown. EVERYONE KNEW THAT THE STATE WAS IN TROUBLE! DUUUUUUUUH! Isn’t that why we booted Gray Davis? So how come Mauk and Moorlach pushed through class after class of new workers, spending, spending, spending, spending, redecorating, taking money for their fancy cars, when they knew the state was in crisis? They are miserable, corrupt, failures. Now they want to throw the people who do the actual work on the street, after they used them to meet the federal mandates and get their money? BOOT THEM!
As for good riddens? You obviously know nothing of my job. My job is that I process hundreds of applications and annual reviews. I return calls, see clients, review documents and input data so that the most vulnerable of our citizens have food, clothing, shelter and medical care. I work with seniors and the disabled, who need people to make sure that family or other people are not stealing their assets when they are unable to protect themselves. I don’t know what person you speak of, but I bet she works for the higher ups. My job is tedious, exhausting, demanding and pays crap. So keep your stupid to yourself. I have a bachelor’s, too, and beyond. You said get a real job…I have a real job, sweetheart, serving real people in need. The seniors and disabled who depend on me to make sure they are okay know that.
Maybe what this county really needs is for all the SSA workers to strike. Then when no one can get help, they might realize we work damn hard for each and every person.
caseworkerssa,
flex day? Is that sort of like a mandatory sick day? must be nice.
If you don’t work for money but rather ‘out of service’ then work for free. Then your self-esteem would soar and you would feel great about yourself! If you worked for free we wouldn’t have a budget crisis!
Btw, go ahead and strike. We could have somebody replace you and be fully trained and up to speed in a couple days.
And just curious. Why did you waste your money to get a college education for a county government job that entails answering the phone and shuffling papers? On second thought, perhaps your college was paid for by the government too. Just a wild guess.
Why does this story conflict with the headline? It is obvious that the salaries are not in the same ballpark after perks and supplemental pay. I have never been a fan of Berardino, but in all fairness, this story is a hachet job.
No, ocobserver. We work 9/80 schedules, which means that we work 8 days of 9 hour schedules, and one day of 8 hour, with one “flex day” off every two weeks. It reduces traffic, pollution and increases staffing for maximum client service. I had no say in that, it’s mandatory. The county is mandated by the state to try and reduce traffic and pollution. This does so. No one is getting any freebie, there.
Furthermore, I was a single mom, and I worked my way off assistance when my ex abandoned me and my baby. I never just sat on welfare, but instead worked and went to school, raising my child. Because I felt a commitment and gratitude to the county that was good to me when I was down and out, I studied to become an educated caseworker, hoping someday to go into elder law and protect senior citizens and the disabled. But I had to quit grad school when my little one was hurt in a hit and run. I work here because I care deeply about the lives of everyone in the county, and because I want to help people stay safe, and to become self sufficient, and…yes…give back to the county that gave to me when I needed it. I can’t work for free, sir, because I have a child with disabilities to raise. I work hard, and I don’t ask for any handout, only a bit of fairness. I make $42,000 a year. I paid my own way through school, save a few student loans that I am paying back, dilligently, and scholarships I got for good grades. I’m a mom, a taxpayer and a hard worker. I was on welfare, but I used it to get off the dead end path and to be self sufficent, and worked and studied, the way it should be. I was the first person in my whole family to ever be on AFDC, and I busted my tail to do right and give back when I got off of it. I want to help other people do that, and to keep the elderly, frail and disabled people here safe and cared for, because they worked hard, too. People prey on the elderly, and they need people to help them, because many have no one.
I am not your enemy. I’m just a single mom trying to support my kid. I’m just a person who balances protecting the taxpayers and the needy. I don’t shuffle papers, sir. I analyze financial data. I talk to people. I resolve conflicts. I look for fraud. I once found a case where the county, the taxpayers, were being defrauded of half a million dollars, and I helped get it back. Day in, day out, I just work and do my very best. I love my job, and I love this county. I’m not feeding at the trough, I’m trying to just make a living.
I don’t believe that someone can do my job in a couple of days. I’ve been here a long time. Our computer systems are very complicated, as are the regulations, case law, procedures and federal requirements we have to meet. Sir, with all due respect, we work hard, just like you. It is fundamentally unfair for the execs here to get a raise, an $800 per month vehicle subsidy, make $200,000 a year and not have to suffer any losses, while they lay off the hardworking men and women who actually serve the public. It isn’t about cynicism, it’s about fairness.
I just work and expect that if pain has to be suffered, then it should be fairly applied to all within the county, not just one small group, while the higher ups keep taking more and more. Why is that a radical idea worthy of insult?
“LOOK FOR DA UNION LABEL!!!”
” AS DA TAX PAYERS ARE BENT OVER THE TABLE!!!!”
SICKENING!!!
ocobserver,
I would quit while I’m behind if I were you. She just blew you out of the water.
sofedup: that’s the way I see it, too. It’s a lot of BS and keeps the focus off the real issue of the BoS and upper management abuse of the system.
Ocobserver: “I won’t be needing your services because I don’t depend upon the government for my survival. I would never ask you for a dime or a meal. Trust me.” Never say never. And you would probably be one of those screaming for any benefit you could get your hands on.
This whole layoff mess in the County will trickle down to every County resident, one way or another. Don’t think you’re immune. It will affect all of us, all because of the mismanagement and greed of those who were elected to the BoS or appointed or given a upper management position.
It’s just disgusting what’s happening now. The idiots in charge should be held accountable and either fired, demoted, or recalled.
caseworkerssa,
How could you afford to raise a little one, afford the money and time for a college education and work all at the same time? I understand that people can make up any story they want on the blogs and never get called out. That’s why I don’t believe 10% of the personal anecdotes I read here. It’s all make-believe to push personal agendas and make the writer appear to be something he or she is not.
The only exec I know making $200k a year is Uncle Nick. Supes make alot less than that with much more responsibility. They are carrying out the business of the entire county. All Uncle Nick does is try to inflate your salaries, benefits and pensions at the expense of the taxpayer and then cry when we hit an economic slump and you get laid off.
You have to understand. You government folks add nothing to the GNP. You produce nothing. You take money from the taxpayer and your entire job involves giving even more of our tax dollars to other people. You produce nothing but a big, fat bill for the taxpayer. So when the private sector gets cut it only makes sense that your jobs get cut too. After all, the private sector generates the money that finances your paychecks.
Sooner or later you have to let that sink in and deal with it!
Every county employee is forced to join OCEA and pay duesn (closed shop). In addition, the county pays OCEA money for each member every pay day that is supposed to go towards buying down the cost of health and welfare benefits such as vision care and dental insurance. OCEA has never had to account for that money as to how much actually goes towards members versus how much is taken off the top for administrative expenses. The H&W bi-weekly payment amounts to about $100K per pay day (conservative estimate) in taxpayer money handed to OCEA with little to no strings attached. To argue that members (and not taxpayers) pay Bernadino’s salary is not reality. To top that off, he is not the only high paid executive at OCEA and may receive additional compensation from Velice Corp, which wholy owns OCEA. Chop at the top indeed.
Wow what a mess.
All these people are guilty, starting at the top. Unions should be a thing of the past in such a competitive world economy. Pensions… what a ripoff. Another obsolete benefit for taxpayers to foot the bill.
I see an awful lot of people with lots of time wasted writing in this blog. Let us investigate each and every response to see if they were on the clock! …
$200K/yr for a poor job
$765 a month allowance for a car? Come on…
Sounds similar to the pay school board administrators receive which is another in-your-face joke.
This article is taking attention from the BoS remodel. It was obviously pushed by someone on floor 5. In my high school debate class we called this a, “straw man” argument…
Nick’s salary is well justified, if not only for the fact he has to interact with the county management team as often as he does. It must get exhausting dealing with such obtuse people. Let’s remember that it is the county leadership that fell asleep at the wheel and mismanaged the money. All Nick did was bring it to light.
Keep up the good work Nick!!
The diversionary tactic on the Board’s part isn’t going to work. So Berardino makes the same as the Human Resource Director …..oops less than the HR Director. Its a smart practice. It looks like there are people that don’t want to address the fact that they are remodeling their lobby while putting 3,700 children at risk of child abuse. What about the abused kids?
Wakeup hit it on the head. As sorry as I feel for anyone losing their job (public AND private) because of a lack of leadership, it is the abysed children that suffer most. Will ocobserver or mr.smith save them? No, they are too good for a job that saves abused children. Shame on you!
An article about Moorlach that is very interesting: http://www.theliberaloc.com/2009/01/05/the-imperial-chairmanship-of-john-moorlach/#more-5060
The whole BoS needs to go, not just Moorlach, but this article is a good indication that they don’t care about anyone but themselves.
chinesedemocracy,
it must must get exhausting for a McDonald’s drive-through clerk to deal with all those ‘obtuse’ customers too but it doesn’t mean a McDonald’s clerk deserves $200k a year.
Speaking of ‘bringing to light’ that’s what the OCR did with Uncle Nick’s salary too. Gee whiz, don’t shoot the messenger!
If Uncle Nick wants to ‘chop at the top’ then he has to put himself on the chopping block too. Chop about $30k off that $201k salary and we might take you seriously. Otherwise you’re just another blowhard lined up at the feeding trough.
Ocobserver-
I guess my subtile attempt at humor was lost on you, by no means am I justifying berardino’s salary based on his county interactions. The article already explains that he makes less than the hr director, and why the two positions are tied together. I would think a private free market kool-aid drinker would understand corporate recruitment. I do and I work in the private sector fyi, in human resources to boot! so painting me as an employee on the chopping block to nullify my argument doesn’t quite work.
And ocobserver, u still didn’t tell me who will protect the abused kids…?
chinesedemocracy.
if we deported illegal foreigners like the law of the land demands we wouldn’t have to deal with a flood of abused kids. send the illegals back to their countries of origin and let the authorities there deal with the abused kids. trust me, if we enforced the law the caseloads of abused children in OC would drop like a 5 ton stone! the trough feeders in the government love illegal foreigners because they provide job security. no more. those days are gone.
And there are many highly talented professionals who could do Uncle Nick’s job @ 2/3rd of his salary. It’s laughable that you claim the supes are overpaid but that Uncle Nick is working for less than comparable professionals while he’s pulling down $201k a year! haha. You expect anyone with an active brain wave to take you folks seriously?
At least the union GM fights for his people!
Smoke and mirrors, that is all that this is. Let’s take focus away from the BOS and place it on Nick’s salary, this sounds like a way to distract from the fact that the BOS does not want to step up to the plate and support their employees. I just don’t see the relevance in what the general manager makes, OCEA’s dues are very low compared to most Unions and you get much better representation for what you pay. This is not taxpayer money being wasted like what is happening with the BOS. I have to say that some of the comments here, particularly from OCobserver could not sound any more arrogant, egotistical, and degrading.
Ocobserver-
Actually, child abuse is not just for illegal immigrants. Show me any evidence that shows the ethnic/immigrant status and instances of abuse.
I also don’t see how federal immigration law explains a 326,000 thousand dollar remodel for a problem that an unlocked door would have done for free!
“Feeding at the trough”? Are u kidding me! The trough isn’t working 9-5 for abused kids, the trough is the discretionary money the BoS dumps into the pockets of their campaign contributors
chinesedemogogery,
Just look from where most of the child abuse cases originate: Santa Ana and Anaheim. The proof is in the pudding. If the illegals were shipped back home the SSA caseload would plummet. That’s why the gobblement workers are all pro-illegal foreigners. Illegals provide the gobblement workers with job security. How many SSA workers don’t speak spanish? I bet it’s a job requirement these days.
The trough is OCERS. That’s the trough. And it’s going to dry up as soon as the county goes bankrupt which will absolve the taxpayer from any future liability. You are on a direct collision with reality.
OC is one of the top 6 counties in Ca at high risk of financial crisis.
Read about Vallejo, Ca.
The Salary of any staff ANY union is not relevant since IT IS NOT PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS.
This is a salary paid by vonuntary participation of the union members, who feel that representation by professionals is manditory in the face of slippery politicians who would otherwise control their fate and livelihood……….This very article is PROOF of this unfortunate circumstance.
We are seeing the focus diverted to suit an agenda and protect the guilty. Lets hold these top- food -chain County Supervisors to the FIRE!…….. ……These “County Supervisors” need to face some Western Justice!…, while they sit at their desks writing their own blogs……..WE are responsible. Get the Rope.
Ocobserver-
So far the reasons u have stated for the problems facing ssa are:
Berardino’s salary
Social science degrees
Flex days
College affordability
Immigrants
Santa ana
Anaheim
Ocers
Why not include the kitchen sink!!! I guess any strawman will do! Let me know when the boogie man makes an appearence. And hey, ocobserver, have u seen the santa ana fire department letter? Just calls for an unlocked door. Not 326,000 dollars worth of remodeling, how does that protect the tax payer?
Mr. Smith Too, OCMA Member and all you otherManagement types: Nick B. gets paid what he deserves because he fights for his people to keep the manager and BoS from bullying and beating them. What does the GM of OCMA get paid? Oh, that’s right. YOU DON’T HAVE A GM! In fact, you don’t have anyone who fights for your worthless rear ends. That’s why you have to complain about Nick and your underlings. Oh, wait a minute. When your worthless union formed, didn’t you ask OCEA to represent you?
Chop at the Top!!!!
ocobserver? It’s called being hardworking. Always have been, always will be. I was raised that way. It took me six years, but I did it, and I’m damn proud of it.
For your information? I am not pro-illegal alien. I believe that we have to deal with the problem that illegals create on our economy. Another of your ignorant assumptions blown away.
We don’t add to the GNP, no. But we contribute by making sure that kids are safer, the elderly are protected, and the poor are assisted to become self sufficient. I’d love it if there was no need for our services, tomorrow. If there were no poverty, no child abuse, no elder abuse, no sickness? Yahoo. I’d jump for joy.
And yes, dear heart, there are many people, including Mauk, Moorlach, Harita and Riley who make far more than that. The Register publishes all our salaries, look it up, smart guy. And, for the last stinking time because apparently you can’t READ, Nick Bernardino is not the head of the caseworkers union. He’s the head of OCEA, which represents the management and clerical. AFSCME is the do nothing union for caseworkers. Nick doesn’t speak for me. He doesn’t represent most of the 213 people who got their pink slips today.
The BoS didn’t just build that pretentious wall. They redecorated their break room, conference room and offices. They aren’t protecting anyone, and they are failures. Maybe, like chinesedemocracy said, you are just looking for a boogeyman, whether it makes sense or not. Or maybe you are just a tool of Mauk, Moorlach and their regime of stupid. Either way? You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Gee, Teri Sforza Register Writer, since when don’t the writers at the Register reflect the political leanings of the publisher and editors? The Register is one of the most right-leaning yellow journals I have ever seen. Their consistent in their support of the Board of Supervisors and Tom Mauck….. that is, unless they smell a juicy story of embarrassment and shame. Then they jump on their own like spiders eating their young.
While the Register may not be nonprofit, it is sure that they are not making a profit anymore. I know the few left up there probably sit around thinking that it’s the internet, instant messaging, on-line sources when it really is that people want a much wider view of the world and they want it now. That’s something that is impossible for the Register or any print newspaper to do. And, before you go touting your great website with up-to-the-minute breaking news, tell your money-grubbing bosses to axe about half the ads and popups so that people will actually want to go there. Gee, it only took your webmasters 6 years to figure out that some people like mobile content.
Nick’s salary and the books of the union have never been a secret. Whoever claimed that OCEA is not accountable for it’s health and welfare fund is misinformed. When asked by the county, OCEA promptly handed over its books because it had nothing to hide.
Chop at the Top!!!!
shame on you OCMA members!!!!!!!. While you are all getting a raise -a lot of hard working people are getting pinks today. Show your leadership! But the entire county already knows the ENTIRE Board members, CEO & Assistant CEO have no LEADERSHIP. All those “Leadership classes” they took using so many County hours were for nothing”
The BOS helped put the employees on the street. Or did they forget they approve the Budget. Not OCEA!!!!!!
Nick don’t these punks get to you. You are making them work and they can’t stand it
OCEA is the only thing the County employees have to fight for them.
OCEA keep up the good work!!!!!
chinesedemagoguery,
Oh, you wanted a one primary reason for the county crisis?
Two words:
Overpaid incompetents.
There ya go. That covers it.
Talk about a red herring! Nick B. may be well-compensated but that’s not the real juicy story here…that foolish storyline belongs to the Board of Supervisors and their irresponsible spending habits that are a slap in the face to OC taxpayers . By the way, remember that Nick was the FIRST one to come forward and offer up solutions which even involved some “give” on his end. The Supes’ response…ummm?…still waiting. Perhaps they couldn’t hear him as they were driving away in their taxpayer subsidized cars.
Keep da Peace:
Must have wakened you up from your nap. OCEA is not voluntary. All members are FORCED to join and pay dues. $11 each bi-weekly times 14,000 forced members is $154K times 26 pay periods is $4 million plus. On top of that, the $100K H&W payment made by the county every 2 weeks to OCEA is taxpayer money. OCEA has $5 million in reserves (wonder how much of that is taxpayer money?). OCEA has offered its members a hot dog and a t-shirt, but has not saved one job so far.
OCEA has no contract for 2009. OCMA does. Who needs a $201K GM when we get a better contract without one. You can be mad. You can name call, You can shift blame. Bottom line, the economy is in the toilet and people working for the county are going to loose their jobs.
Since OCMA has a contract with pending raises, we can and will give it all up to help save jobs, even OCEA members jobs! That is more than you or your organization has done so far. Come watch the vote tomorrow at the HOA 3:30 PM. Then it will be your turn to put your money where your mouth is.
Ocobserver-
I wasn’t asking, I was just pointing out the ridiculous amount of boogie men u brought to the argument!
And I agree, over priced incompetents ARE the problem!!! And they are on the 5th floor! Get rid of the CEO and cut the pay of the BoS. Wow ocobserver, we agree after all!
I agree with you Keep da peace. It sounds like Mr. Smith is jealous of Nick and OCEA.
I don’t have a clue who Mike is but he makes me sick just reading his post. I have worked for the county for over 18 years and many of those years I was represented by OCEA with no dues.I also was a rep and when I was it was OCEA who trained me that although not every employee is right that we would represent them but their cases were frivolous and would not hold up. I was taught integrity was still foremost although we would sit with them to ensure management did not infringe upon anyone’s rights. I held a great deal of respect for OCEA and county management at that time naively so I later found out as when I prompted I no longer had time to attend my meetings and told by OC management to not trust OCEA they were the bad guys. Never did I hear that from OCEA while working with them and for my fellow workers. Now in time of distress management husses everything and next thing you know rumors that were suppose to be “promoted by OCEA ” are now a reality. Who do I believe you go figure, as we receive, “or so sorry emails” from our CEO and management and down right lies from our BoS, sorry folks, but if I am going to support someone and stand behind them I would rather it be someone who maybe make 4 times my salary a year but is willing to stay late or even on weekends or holidays to fight for the rights of those who really believe in helping others and doing the best job for the county, taxpayers, and their co-workers. I pray for all those who are and will lose their jobs right now and try to remain hopeful in the coming months. Fight on Nick.
I heard that Mr. Berardino has two kids that work for the County. Is this true?
Mr. Berardino earns every penny of his salary. He puts in 16 hour days, 7 days a week. The Board of Supervisors and County Management sure don’t. Nick has devoted his life to helping the plight of working men and women. If he was the CEO of a major corporation, he’d be making millions of dollars per year.
But this story is obviously an attempt to divert the public’s attention away from the real issue: the county’s management team is bloated, incompetent, and overpaid. They consistently make bad decisions, squander millions of dollars on pet projects, and when it comes back to bite them, they scapegoat the hard-working county employees at the bottom — the people who actually do the real work of this county.
And now they’re trying to scapegoat Nick Berardino. Mr. Berardino is not responsible for the dreadful financial situation that the county finds itself in — the county Board of Supervisors and the county’s management team are responsible for the mess we’re in.
I am sorry for those losing jobs. It is an absolute tragedy…both in the public and private sector. The attacks upon OCEA and County management both seem diversionary in that regard.
However, I believe Mr. Berardino should be able to withstand the same level of scrutiny he has heaped upon the County management.
The economy is in bad shape and it effects us all.
Nick Berardino has suggested creative ideas to ease some of the pain in Orange County. (Wasn’t he willing to donate a few weeks worth of his pay back in December? And didn’t he encourage County Management and the BOS to do the same?) This article is much to do about nothing.
Stop the finger pointing and stop being so hypocritical.
How about the Board of Supervisors, Mauk AND Nick Berardino give up a percentage of their salaries? Aren’t they ALL Executive Managers? Chop at the top, remember?
Maybe if they all agree to cut their salaries they could lead the County by example.
Chop at the top BOS, Mauk & Nick B!
Nice try Mr Moorlach & Co! Couldn’t ask for a better timing! However, keep in mind that Berardino doesn’t call for exposing your salaries in every litlle detail. Berardino goes after all “extras” which seem to be now more extravagant and lavish than ever: your car allowances and $4,500 in benefits which you can live without, as well as to reduce an oversized management on all levels that County cannot afford.
Pailin was able to sell her jet on e-bay to save her state a few bucks.Couldn’t you for once take a noble example by one of your breed and do something for people who elevated you to the positions of leaders?
The question was not what a person makes but what they spend. The BOS spends tax payers money not their own. Berardino deserves to at least be competive with the Human Resources Director. When talking about the Board compare apples with apples not apples and watermelons.
If Pailin was able to sell her jet on e-bay to save Alaska a few bucks, WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE, Moorlach?
To Goodriddens:
You sound like someone who is bitter of never having the brains to even obtain a county job!!!!! YOu must still be bitter. For every ignorant comment that is posted here stop wasting your time and attacking one another and put your efforts into going to the Union meetings, obtaining facts and being pro active. There are many people who have an education who work for the county who are valuable employees just as there are employees without one!!!!!!!!!!!
If Pailin, one of you breed, was able to sell her jet on e-bay to save Alaska a few bucks, WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE, Moorlach?
Hmm, have no jet? Tha’t ok, John. Every little thing counts. I’ll take your monthly car allowance, or $4,500 in optional benefits… and share with those who got layoff today…
If Pailin, one of you breed, was able to sell her jet on e-bay to save Alaska a few bucks, WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE, Moorlach?
Hmm, have no jet? Tha’t ok, John. Every little thing counts. I’ll take your monthly car allowance, or $4,500 in optional benefits… and share with those who got layoff today…
“caseworkerssa” seems to be a bit confused Point of clarification, OCEA does not represent managers. OCEA does happen to represent first line supervisors and the majority of those staff that received layoff notices. OCEA represents all of the Social Worker Job series and AFSCME represents the Elgibility Techinicians.
Berardinio has fought hard for OCEA members for 30 years. We understand he is a tough guy and very agressive at times, but that is what we want to protect us. He has never turned his back on the members and the members will never turn their backs on him. So Moorlach your little ploy only strenthens resolve. Oh by the way the rest of the Board if you continue to listen to the three “m’s” Moorlach, Mainero and Mauk you will continue to get bad advice and that will not be in the interest of anyone or resolve the problems we all face !!!
Let’s look at this …….
We are upset and angry because the Board of Supervisors non-chalantly wastes money, do not care about their employees or their constituents and pretty much are dishonorable.
Nick B. labors hard for his employees, is vigilant, and serves those that do pay his salary. Why shouldn’t the employees have their own bulldog to fight for their rights? Seeing how “honorable” these Board of Supervisors are NOT with their employees, I salute their strong showing in protecting themselves.
Those that are not organized, and can’t get their fellow employees organized are simply envious that employees in Orange County have the “balls” to do so. I am sure they feel that they are getting what they are paying for! Can you say the same with what we get from these Board of Supervisors? I cannot!
Nick B.’s salary is paid by union members.
It appears to me that he is actually earning his money…doing what he is paid to do,…represent and fight for the union membership. Not an insurance company…a union of over 1400 members! Not all of them are agency shop either!
It is usually the bully’s on the playground that begin throwing a fit when they are caught being bullys! Let’s not feed into their dilerium but stay focused on what needs to happen to actually help Orange County stay afloat and functioning. The front line employees are the ones providing gthe services. Yes, adjustments needs to be made, and cutbacks are real. Responsible leadership automatically looks to where they can cut before going to any extremes. Why is that concept so difficult for these Board of Supervisors to get????
OCMA has to be the wimpiest union ever formed. It will likely vote tomorrow to surrender a negotiated, contracted 2% raise in exchange for - absolutely nothing, not even any assurance that OCEA jobs will be spared as a result. The big fear, apparently, is the Register’s editorial writers - ooh, they might write that we’re bad people if we don’t agree to cut our pay!
It’s late in the evening and after reading all these blogs i have to say this article is to distract from the real fact that the BOS does not want to step up to the plate and support their employees.
As far as I can tell, Nick Berardino earns every dollar he is paid. But I don’t really care much one way or the other. Seems to me like the main people who DO “care” are those whose jobs are threatened by the “chop at the top” philosophy that Nick is promoting.
Now THAT I find interesting.
It seems to me that Nick and OCEA are the main forces behind decent ideas to save jobs in the County, and to save money for the County. He and OCEA are the only hope for many County employees.
It’s sad that the Board of Supervisors has shown so little leadership. Same with Mauk. Our Board of Supervisors is showing NO compassion and NO guts — both of which Nick obviously has in abundance.
If it was your job at risk….wouldn’t you want someone who would go to the mat for you. Berardino is a fighter and if he is as tough as he was during the Bankruptcy in 1994, don’t look for this guy to give up soon.
Seems like this article brought out all the union haters - but that’s really beside the point. These “critics”are the same folks who think it’s just fine that corporate executives rake in tens of millions while driving their companies, their shareholders, and our way of life into the ground, think it’s just fine that the Enron’s of the world squander their employees retirement money, and think it’s just fine that County politicos try to sweep their wasteful spending under the rug and point fingers instead at the only people who are trying to shine a light on their hypocrisy. What a sham that Berardino’s salary is even being discussed, and what a deceitful, misleading, yellow journalism headline.
I think it’s sad that the Register, after doing some decent reporting about the abuses by the Supes, falls back to this anti-union bashing…
To compare a union leader who works 7 days a week and exposes the greed, arrogance, fraud, of our elected officials, to the part time Supervisors who are paid full time salaries…what a crock!
How sad that the Register editorial staff has so much power over their field reporters…Teri if you don’t have the fortitude to stick to the real story…greedy Supes redecorating their offices while people go out the door, then hand the tough stories back to Norberto.
This is the most ridiculous, idiotic post I have seen in a long time.
Let’s start with Ms. Sforza - what exactly is newsworthy about this, and why attack Nick Berardino and OCEA? You respond to “Jim”’s complaints that you are picking on OCEA/Nick Berardino by stating
“The Register, for better or worse, is not a nonprofit corporation. It’s not required to (sic) dislcose its finances.
The union, however, is a nonprofit corporation, and its tax returns are a matter of public record. Nonprofits, as you know, get tax breaks from Uncle Sam that regular companies do not.”
While that is true in a vague, non-sensical way, it completely (and transparently) ignores the fundamental premise of the question: Why are you comparing the CEO of a private enterprise (non-profit or otherwise) with that of the Tax Payer paid Board of Supervisors? I understand that OC Register reporters pride themselves on their experienced ignorance, poor logic, pathetic investigative skills, and ideology over intelligence, but your response really takes the cake.
Admit your petty anti-union agenda already.
You are obviously either completely ignorant as to the policy reasons underpinning the various organizations that are granted tax-exempt status, or you just don’t like being called on your attack on Mr Berardino and OCEA. You could focus on any of thousands of tax exempt organizations (501(c)(3) or otherwise) with religious, health, arts, education, health, other political or union basis for tax exempt status. Why not criticize the pay of tax exempt status organizations whose tax exempt status is predicated upon religious grounds? For example, The president of OC’s own Trinity Broadcasting Network gets $419,500, over TWICE Mr. Berardino’s pay. By the way, One of Trinity’s VP (The wife of the President of TBN) gets $361,000, while the other VP at TBN (The son of the President) gets $130,082 - all in the family nepotism to the tune of $900,000 a year - Where’s your indignation on how the tax payers for this? Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Chairman? $396,966. Peter Popoff Ministries of Upland, CA (Mr. Popoff was exposed as a fraud who claimed to receive information from God while preaching live on TV - turned out he had an earpiece and his wife was broadcasting information collected from parishoners by his wife and assistants in the audience) - President $628,732. Where is the indignation about THAT? What man or woman of God needs that type of pay to “Do the Lord’s work?”
OK: Let’s move to Non-religious non-profits: National Center for Policy Analysis: President and Founder, $370,000. San Diego Opera: $370,000. Metropolitan Opera $1,203,145 for director. Columbia University: $ 4,837,877 for Clinical Professor. The Nature Conservancy’s Director? $427,465. Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland CEO - $908,927.
The moral of the story is that Mr. Berardino’s pay is simply not disproportionate to his work, or his position, or his organization. I do not see you railing against Executive pay on Wall Street, or in other tax payer exempt organizations, where the pay IS truly out of scale and exorbitant. You cannot make the case that Mr. Berardino’s pay is out of scale, you have no standing to complain (nor does the public, as the pay is a union issue), the OCEA membership is not, as they are more than happy with his work.
You are simply trying to manufacture a controversy under the moniker “OC Register Watchdog Blogger” when you are not “watch-dogging” anything. If you are, you might want to just try to explain what you are “watch-dogging” here, and what the public interest really is (none). Writer’s call such “exposition” - you might want to try it, since you are posing as one. You want to be anti-union, go ahead, just be honest about it so we can “call a spade a spade.” While you masquerade as a “Watch Dog” you might just want to try doing some real investigation into something that is truly affecting the public.
For example, why aren’t you actually focused on the inept performance of the BOS, and how they are cutting jobs while engaging in a completely unnecessary remodel? You write “The county is struggling to plug an $86 million hole in its budget.” Yet you are attacking Mr. Berardino. BOS mismanagement of OC funds? Santa Ana Board of Education and School District fraud and mismanagement? Get with it, “Watch Dog”.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock. The board goes on vacation, the managers go on vacation. They enjoy their time off, eat at expensive restaurants, and enjoy the tithing’s from their fund raisers. The board is laying people off and is absent during the critical times needed to come up with solutions for the problems at hand. As a tax payer of this county, I would at least expect to see or read the board and managers have worked night, day and weekends and have exhausted every remedy with the union to solve problems. The best solution some managers have is to point fingers at a private employees salary and implicate, “That’s the problem”. The failure of the board and managers to manage their PNL’s and budgets is where the cataclysmic meltdown has occurred. The board and managers failed to act when the county went towards recession as the rest of the country did. The current answer by the board, “Oh well, we went on vacation and did not have to hear the workers complain about paying for their rent, food or child care”. Callous people, Amoral people, can easily write off the people who cannot defend themselves. It is the BOS’s and managers behavior that is in question. Thank goodness the Union is there to protect the employees rights.
As one of the OCEA Board of Directors who participated in setting Mr. Berardino’s salary and benefits I can assure you it has been all been earned. He is held fully accountable for meeting organizational goals. So let’s all focus on the real issue………The current Boards lack of concern or compassion for anyone but itself. Mr. Mauck you should be ashamed of yourself for engaging in such fodder. You are spreading and perpetuating lies in the worst way and for the most immoral reasons of all. Your security, Johnny’s, and Mario Manure.
Kind of funny how all the County managers/OCEA haters come posting on here about how Berardino makes money at or about the market average for a company exec in his power. Less powerful positions in the County make more than him. Go figure.
With his experience, he could probably go get a job with some corp and make more money. But he eats, sleeps, and breathes OCEA and they are lucky to have someone so passionate. He was hired to do his job and if he doesn’t do his job properly he can be fired. His salary is tied to the HR Director. A fairly comparable type job.
The Board of Sups are elected and their salaries are tied to Supreme Court Judges. Plus they can vote for their own enhancements. How does that make sense?
Must be nice.
The union general manager’s salary is not paid by tax payer dollars, and therefore, it should not be compared to the county supervisors’ salary which is paid for by public funds. Furthermore, the timing of this article is a little suspicious; it appears that the county officials are trying to retaliate against the union general manager for exposing their wasteful spending.
This is a fine lot of finger-pointing.
Forget about the $ for a second and see things in terms of services lost.
The public suffers most when there is waste in the system; and I see alot of that from the 5th floor and not alot from the Non-Profit OCEA.
Figures,
Moorlach tries to divert attention from his wasteful spending by changing the subject to the salary of the OCEA General Manager, which happens to be less than what comparable county managers are paid.
Again he tells us to “look over there,” while he lines his own pockets behind our backs.
Mr. Berardino has made a living off the County. His salary is paid by taxpayer money used to pay County employees, who in turn pay dues at OCEA. He has two children who work for the County. His salary and benefit package appears to be equal to at least four of the people being laid off. How could this not raise eyebrows?
Wrong, Mr. Smith Too. OCEA is a modified closed shop and employees are not forced to join. There are several ways for a member to opt out. For those that don’t however, they at least get representation. What does OCMA get? Donuts?
I wonder what Mr. Bernardino salary has to do with the laid offs , if he is a union person or staff he is not paid by the taxpayers ,the Board of Supervisors are paid by us the tax payer , the county managers with all theirs perks are paid by us , they use the tax payers gasoline for theirs taxpayers paid cars , why we do not JAILED then for corruption and for stealing from all of us , the taxpayers.
Oh- I am such an idiot! Mr. Berardino does not make his livig off the county - he is paid by a Union! I forgot that! And taxpayer money - that is wrong too, because once the Union members’s are aid, it is their money, not the tax payers, because it is their earned money! I forgot that once the tax payer’s dollar is paid to an employee, the employee can choose to spend it to support who they wish! God, I am so embarrassed - My brain synapses misfire so often, sometimes I don’t know if it is Tuesday or August! Oh yeah - the union decides who to employ and how much they are paid, not the County, but the BofS decides to approve layoffs for budget reasons, while approving unnecessary and luxurious remodels of their offices and building for their ego purposes - all examples of BoS direct spending of tax dollars - when the same money could be used to preserve County employee jobs (and thus the level of service provided by the County)!
I knew I should have taken a civics and government class!
Keep da peace:
Why are you taking shots at OCMA? So far we are the only employee group that has given up anything to help save jobs, even those of your peers at Probation. The issue here is hypocracy. Nick and your fellow Board members have latched on to a trite slogan that will in the end save nothing. You have gone on the attack, yet have offered up no tangible pot of money to save even one job. Hot dogs and t-shirts saved no jobs. Chop at the top saves no jobs. Giving up P4P saved $500K and the 2% that we will vote on today (even if we get nothing in return) will save hundreds of thousands more. That money directly translates in to saved jobs. If that makes us stupid, so be it. At least we know we did something besides attack and name call. With 14,000 members, even a 3% cut in pay would wipe out the deficit and save every job. But you would rather attack others than look at your own house. That is by definition hypocracy.
I can agree that the BoS are self serving politicians. Union Leaders may also be considered self serving politicians. Both take from the front line members of our county. How much is enough?
While BoS members and Nick B. receive generous compensation packages, a true reduction in their pay is a start.
It still does not solve the financial distress this County is in. A complete audit of all departments within the County should be undertaken. A complete list of all services, with detailed information of salaries, perks, and any other expenditures.
Spare only the essential. There is the rub. What is considered essential? Education, Fire, Police, and Transportation should be at the top of the list.
However, as we have found out from the Corona trial, there is a lot of waste that can be trimmed. However, because of Unions any cuts will be met with resistant.
Is there anyone willing to take one for the County? How many County workers will want to take a pay cut or a reduction in hours, less money contributed to their pension in order to still have a job?
Pensions. How many County workers will want to have their pension readjusted?
Folks, we are in for tough times. Everyone from the top down need to make tough decisions. Put the political grandstangind aside and work on solving problems not create more hostility.
Orange County has some serious problems and we need serious people to solve them.
just my2sense
Is it just me or are all of these wastes of flesh being paid WAY too much? All government employees make way too much money and receive way too many bonuses and pensions and whatnot. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the Constitution says they should be merely compensated for their time. That means buy them a hamburger, give them a coke, and send them on their way to work in the real world with the rest of us. We can’t build shelters for the homeless, or gee I dunno, LET ME KEEP MY MONEY THAT I WORKED FOR, but we can give these corrupt clowns upwards of $200k a year plus bonuses, pensions, insurance, etc of OUR MONEY? Something is very wrong here………
Look, you can’t expect stupid, regular union employees to understand that people in these positions cant have to deal with only making as much as the regular Joe any more than a stupid Co. worker could understand he doesn’t get the administrators salary. After all, if the union biggies had to worry about getting by like all the regular stiffs about rent, car payment, living expenses… all adding up to a little more than they can afford, how could they be expected to make clear, rational decisions? Lets keep making it clear that the best people to have in charge of these things is someone who is, well, better, smarter more refined, and give everyone at the top a big raise. After all, no one can do what they do.
btw, what was the salary of the Co. personnel director compared to the base Co. workers salary in 1959 % wise?
Cancel your Union Membership. Quit paying dues. Why waste your money? You’re going to need it in the long run. Besides, all the Union Presidents, Directors, etc…including Mauk and the BoS continue to reap their benefits.
OCMA has done nothing to help the employees they represent, and the top (fat) cats of that Union are under the CEO’s wing anyway.
Who is joe the plumber? Inepts!!!
Good riddens: Suck it up. Not my fault you don’t have a stable career like I do. I, like you have a 4 year degree. However, I wish it was just a mere GED so I could throw it back in your face -=)
I just got my Management Bonusand I am going to DISNEYLAND!!!!!!