Thursday, March 29, 2007

Giving You a Voice

This blog is set up for YOU, the employees of El Dorado Irrigation District, as a way to give vent to the current management problems at EID. I’m just like you, someone who is tired of the inner workings at EID and wants a way to voice my concerns. Face it, we all have individual concerns and as a group I am hoping that those concerns can be heard.

This is a private blog and is in no way approved by or sponsored by anyone in management at EID. This site is to help keep others informed, validate what is really happening at EID and to give you a non-judgmental way to express your thoughts.

All user information is confidential and will never be released! If you have fears of your name getting back to management than I suggest that you don’t use your real name and e-mail address. You can create anomies e-mail addresses through Google, Hotmail or Yahoo.

I only have 3 requests when posting to this site:

1) KEEP IT FACTUAL. We all know how the rumors spread around EID and this site is not a way to add to it. Keep your postings based in facts and it will go a long way to crediting this site as a valuable source of information for others.

2) WATCH THE LANGUAGE. Face it; no one will take you seriously if you fill your posting with negative or obscene language. If you want your opinions to be heard and validated than use language that can be respected.

3) NO RETRIBUTION. While this site is aimed at uncovering the negative and destructive behaviors of the current management style at EID; it is not aimed at getting others in trouble out of vengeance. Just state the true facts and let others take care of the rest.

No one in this world, so far as I know ... has ever lost money
by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses
of the plain people. H.L. Mencken

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

is anyone going to say anything?

SpeakOutEID said...

Give people a chance to get use to the idea that this blog is a SAFE place to voice their concerns.

If it helps, let’s start with an easy question for people to answer:

Are you content with the current management style at EID? Give a yes or no answer and a brief description as to why.

Anonymous said...

I DONT WORK AT EID--MY SPOUSE DOES. WHAT HAS THE MANAGEMENT DONE TO HIM? COMPLEATLY DEFLATED HIS MORAL--KILLED HIS ENTHUSIAM FOR WORK--AND BLEW HIS TRUST INTO A MILLIUON PIECES. HE SAYS YOU SPEND HALF YOUR DAY WORKING AND THE OTHER HALF DODGING THE KNIVES THROWN AT YOUR BACK. I ASK AN OTHER MAN WHO WORKS THERE WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED AT A SMALL AGENCY IN SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE LIKE EL DORADO COUNTY--HE SAYS ITS SIMPLE--DIESTER CAME IN WITH A BIG TIMS POLITICS BACKGROUND AND SET UP EID THE SAME WAY--ITS THE ONLY WAY SHE KNOWS HOW TO BE. ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE MAN I MARRIED WHO WAS RAISED HERE--GRADUATED SCHOOL HERE--OWNES HIS HOME AND HAS RAISED HIS CHILDREN HERE NO LONGER FEELS BLESSED TO WORK HERE TOO--NO ONE SHOULD FEEL ATTACKED IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD BY OUTSIDERS--BIG TIME BACKSTABING POLITICS--GO HOME!

Anonymous said...

You created this site to vent and talk about the current problems with management, but do not communicate to us what you think are the problems. So I will start this out.

Here are my thoughts….

I personally believe that the district has a great board, management, and great workers, and I believe we as a District are headed in a good direction, I just think that people at all levels of the organization don’t always know what direction that is. This to me this sounds like a communication problem and not a management problem.

Maybe this forum could be used a bit more constructively then trying to focus on problems with management, and instead be used as a forum to focus on problems with communications in the district as a whole. I think we could solve more problems by focusing our energy this way.

Anonymous said...

I think EID is a great place to work we have just been going through a lot of changes. Changes happen all the time every where the problem I have with that is we here rumors for days and months about them coming and how they could or couldn't affect you. If your going to do it just make it happen and lets move on so we can get back to work.

Courage said...

Well now we know that management already knows about this Blog and has posted to it. That just proves that Annie’s propaganda machine is working as expected. The post at 12:00 just shows how the same thing can happen that happened when someone was brave enough to write a letter to the editor of the Mountain Democrat. There was one letter agents and many in favor. This is NOT a proportional representation of the facts, this is an example of the control that management has over us! We feel that we can only speak out if we are supporting management because we are afraid for our jobs if we express any decent. WE SHOULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. I am thankful for this opportunity to speak freely about what is really happening at the district in a confidential way. I hope that others will speak up. I know that you are out there and I hope that by speaking out others will fallow. This is our chance to voice our concerns without fear of retribution! PLEASE SPEEK OUT!!!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone thought about going union? most water districts are local 39. The folks in the employees association are great, but how can they be free to take on a repressive management when they have their own jobs to look out for! the current management style that is currently in power requires proffesional unbiased representation to hold them accountable to fair practices.

Cheryl Pebley said...

This blog is a great idea. But I know for a fact that Ane will go any lengths to find out who started this and who is commenting.

I haven't worked at EID for over 2 years. I was bullied into leaving by Michael Dugan. But I'm very happily retired and I didn't even realize the stress I was under until I left. So I understand the frustration that so many of you have to endure.

I want to stress one thing to all of you. You are protected under the "Whistleblower" law. It is your right as a public employee to speak your mind about concerns you have. If you are harrassed in ANY WAY for your participation in this Blog, please contact your Employees' Association Attorney for advice on how to file a claim against whoever is responsible.

My only concern about EID anymore is the money being spent. I am a ratepayer on a fixed income so it troubles me when I hear how frivilous Ane and the Board are with money.

Cheryl Pebley

Cheryl Pebley

Anonymous said...

In response to the person who suggested going union, I would like to say we should look at this ooption. I agree the people in the association are good people who want make this a good place to work, but from experience know their hands are tied and progress is stifled. Would local 39 be willing to talk to us about joining them as brothers and sisters in this work world? Whoever you are please check into this and let me know through this site. If people are interested in protecting their hard work and jobs please consider this as an option.

Anonymous said...

Going union would be a big up hill battle for us. It would how ever give a voice that we have never had with the current set up. I have worked for a lot of union shops and they are only as good as the support we give them.I'd also like to here more about local 39 how big are they? can we contact any body currently in the local 39 to see what they have to say about it?

Anonymous said...

I think that Union is the only way we will abele to get strong representation. This is not to say that the people in the association are not trying to do a god job the fact is you can only do so much if you work for the organization you are negotiating with. I believe that Local 39 are representing GPUD, PCWA, Folsom and San Juan water agencies to name a few in the immediate area. Here is there web address check it out. www.local39.org

Anonymous said...

I think we should invite the representative from local39 to sit down and discuss having the union represent the non-exempt employees at EID. If the union will represent all the employees, clerical, field, lab, etc., I think we would probably be better off in the long run. In order to start this process, a count of the number of people interested is needed. I will start out this list by including my name. Mike Roberts. If others are interested, add your names. If enough people sign up, we can get this process started.

Anonymous said...

"This to me this sounds like a communication problem and not a management problem."

I was just made aware of this blog. While I am no longer employed with EID (I was a contractor), I am still good friends with current employees.. To point out the problem with 12:00 pm Anonymous' posting... Management's job IS communication ergo the problem IS Management. Every class I took in College, every large and small company I have ever worked for, every article and book I have ever read on GOOD Management practices will tell you that the main job of Management is to communicate the goals of the organization to employees and to communicate the fears and needs of the employees to the organization. THEREFORE Management is the problem when this does not occur as I have observed directly at EID. There is NO excuse for the egregious abuse of employees at the Water District and as a rate payer and voter, I am very aware of the waste that occurs by Management on a daily basis of ratepayer dollars. I would like to see a change of Management at EID from the Board of Directors to Ane Deister. I think that ultimately, this will be the only way to cleanse the poisons from the work atmosphere at this organization. No one should fear for their jobs for being honest and no one should be subjected to abusive management by ANYONE.

Anonymous said...

Wrong,

Its up to the managment team that meets regulary to pass all the information down the ranks so that everyone is informed. Problem is that Ane and Tom have all the managers under a secrecy document so if they share some priveliged infomation she or Tom can get rid of them. So yes its a managment problem. The ratepayers just sit idle and continue to allow EID management to raise rates. This is not right.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the heads up on Ane,
she applied & interviewed (Oct 11, 07) to be our GM at Solano Irriagtion Distict. Sorry for your luck you still have her...
P.S. get rid of the assocation and GO UNION.