Authorization: All active members agree to the terms of the Membership Agreement. Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Association (LACCEA) reserves the right to modify the terms of the Membership Agreement, at its discretion, for the benefit of the Association.

1. Membership. LACCEA is committed to non-discrimination and is open to all Los Angeles County employees.
2. New Member. A new member will be eligible for representation, allowed to vote in our elections, and may run for a position on our Board of Directors when the new member becomes a Member In-Good-Standing.
3. Member In-Good-Standing. A Los Angeles County employee becomes a member In-Good-Standing after three consecutive months of paid LACCEA dues. LACCEA members must continue to pay dues every month, either through payroll deduction or directly to LACCEA, without interruptions to remain a member In-Good-Standing.
4. Representation. Eligibility for representation begins 90-days after the county’s first deduction. Matters occurring before and within the 90-days are not covered. Only members In-Good-Standing are eligible for representation. LACCEA reserves the right to evaluate the merits of a claim. Members must call our office at (626) 365-1591 and speak with one of our office staff in order to obtain authorization for representation.

   Selection of Representation: The member must choose their representation, whether union, LACCEA, or private attorney, at the beginning of the case. LACCEA will not accept cases where the member has previously chosen alternate representation and later attempts to switch representation to LACCEA.

   Scope of representation: LACCEA representation covers matters in civil service proceedings. LACCEA also has an overlapping right with unions to represent members in the grievance procedure. However, pursuant to their contract with the County, the Union has the sole authority to participate in arbitration. Consequently, LACCEA does not have the right to arbitrate after the third-level grievance review. As such, when the matter grieved may lead to arbitration, LACCEA may advise the member to proceed with union representation in order to preserve the member’s right to representation. LACCEA also has the right to represent non-union covered employees such as managers in departmental grievance proceedings.

   Assignment of Representation: Requests for representation will be assigned solely at LACCEA’s discretion to one of its available legal representatives. Members do not have the right to request or demand a legal representative of their choice. If a member decide to seek an attorney outside of LACCEA’s assigned legal representative, LACCEA will not pay for an attorney of your choice.

   Separation of Legal Representative: Should LACCEA end the employment or contractual relationship with one of its legal representatives, any existing case will be re-assigned to a member of the existing staff at LACCEA’s discretion. If a member chooses to continue with the same representative, the member is considered to be seeking representation outside of LACCEA’s legal representatives. As such, LACCEA will not pay for the member’s representation by the attorney of their choice.

   LACCEA’s Rights: LACCEA reserves the right to decline representation, or withdraw after filing a case where LACCEA determines, based upon our investigation, that we are not likely to prevail. LACCEA reserves the right to withdraw from representation if the member refuses a settlement offer where the LACCEA representative assigned to the matter does not believe that any greater benefit will be obtained by continuing formal proceedings. LACCEA reserves the right to withdraw from representation due to the lack of cooperation, or undue hostility, from a member towards the assigned LACCEA representatives or staff.

5. Out-of-Pay status. The County of Los Angeles Department of Auditor -Controller cannot make LACCEA membership dues deductions when a member is out-of-pay status (e.g. on workers comp or unpaid leave) which causes interruption of their payroll deduction dues payment. During periods when the Department of Auditor-Controller cannot make this deduction, it becomes the member’s responsibility to pay their dues directly to LACCEA. Direct payment of bi-monthly membership fees must be received no later than 30 days after the due date to be credited for that period. If dues are not received as agreed, your membership will be suspended.
6. Suspended Membership. Your membership is suspended when you have not submitted membership dues payments as required. When your membership is suspended you are not eligible for representation, may not vote in our elections, and may not run for a position on our Board of Directors. If a membership is suspended, eligibility for representation begins 90 days after you resume payment of your dues. Matters that occur while your membership is suspended are not covered.
7. Membership Cancellation Period. A Los Angeles County employee who has authorized LACCEA dues deductions, may cancel LACCEA dues deductions and their membership with LACCEA during the period of January 1 st to January 15th by notifying LACCEA in writing, postmarked no later than January 15th.
8. Dues. Regular membership dues are $25.00 a month; collected in two easy payments. The Board of Directors is authorized to change monthly dues.
9. Contact Information. LACCEA members agree to inform LACCEA of any changes to their contact information. Los Angeles County is not authorized to give us your contact information. Please update your information changes by sending a notice to LACCEA, 1848 N. Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104, or give us a call at (626) 365-1591, or you may e-mail us at [email protected].

Please include your full name, employee number, department name and number, home and work address, e-mail address, along with your home, work, and cell phone numbers. Without this information we have no way of contacting you or keeping you informed.