On February 1, 2013, Governor Brown announced two appointments to the Public Employment Relations Board: Eric Banks and Priscilla Winslow. Here are the excerpts from the Governor’s press release.
Eric Banks, 41, of San Diego, has been appointed to the California Public Employment Relations Board. Banks has been partner at TenPageMemo LLC since 2013. He served in multiple positions at the Service Employees International Union, Local 221 from 2001 to 2013, including advisor, president and director of government and community relations. Banks was policy associate for state government affairs at the New York AIDS Coalition from 2000 to 2001. He worked in multiple positions at the Southern Tier AIDS Program from 1993 to 2000, including director of client services, assistant director of client services and case manager. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,109. Banks is a Democrat.
Priscilla Winslow, 60, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the California Public Employment Relations Board, where she has served as legal advisor since 2012. She was assistant chief counsel at the California Teachers Association from 1996 to 2012. Winslow was managing partner at the Law Offices of Winslow and Fassler from 1988 to 1996 and was solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Priscilla Winslow from 1986 to 1988. She was an adjunct professor at New College of California from 1984 to 1993 and was associate attorney at Boltuch and Siegel from 1984 to 1986. Winslow served as a temporary staff attorney at the California Teachers Association from 1983 to 1984 and was legal advisor to the chair of the California Public Employment Relations Board from 1979 to 1983. She was staff counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union from 1978 to 1979 and chief counsel for the Clerical and Allied Services Employees Union from 1977 to 1978. Winslow is a member of the American Constitution Society and the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,109. Winslow is a Democrat.
I don’t personally know Eric Banks. He is the former President of SEIU Local 221 in San Diego. Local 221 represents numerous public employees, including employees of the County of San Diego. So I assume that Mr. Banks has quite a bit of experience in public sector labor relations.
I do know Priscilla Winslow. She is a fantastic labor attorney. One of the best. I privately predicted that she might be appointed to the Board (I actually have witnesses so I’m not making this up…) One little known fact: Member Winslow argued the Turlock Joint Elementary School District case (PERB Decision No. 1490) in 2002 which was the last time the Board allowed oral arguments in a case. In the early days of PERB (in the 1980’s), oral arguments were much more common. I don’t think PERB should allow oral argument in every case, but allowing it once in a decade isn’t asking too much … so I’m hoping that Member Winslow might bring back that practice.
Both new members obviously have strong union backgrounds. That’s not unexpected given the Governor’s pro-labor history. However, the job of a Board member is to enforce the law fairly. From a management perspective, stability in the law is also very important. So although I certainly expect this Board to move towards the labor position in many areas, I hope it will be incremental and well-reasoned.
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