Home Care In Union City, CA

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA - Friday evening, a 2.3 magnitude quake was detected near San Ramon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The tremor struck the region at 7:49 p.m. It occurred at a depth of 6 miles with the epicenter located approximately 3 miles southeast of San Ramon. Seismologists first reported it as a 3.8 event, but later downgraded it to 2.3.

Did you feel it?

Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form. The agency has received 219 responses on its online form so far, from people reporting they felt the quake. According to the USGS DYFI report, weak shaking was recorded and people in cities including Union City, Walnut Creek, Hayward and San Ramon reported experiencing the tremor.

Did you capture the impact?

If you have documented the effects of the quake, share your photos with us through our sacbee.com/customer-service/submit-photo.

Quakes past week

Last week, there have been five earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or greater centered nearby. The strongest, a 3.0 magnitude quake, was reported in the same region three days earlier.

What to know about earthquakes

Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U. S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale. Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.

Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but are most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

What to do during an earthquake

If an earthquake strikes, it's best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:

If you're in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.

If you're in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.

If you're outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don't go inside.

If you're inside: Stay and don't run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. "Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy," officials say. "If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops." Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows. Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.

"There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines," officials say. "Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock."

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey

United Robots California

Le Massif de Charlevoix announced in a press release on Saturday that if an agreement with the union is not reached by Jan. 20, the mountain will likely have to close for the season.

In the press release, Le Massif de Charlevoix stated that it is important to “operate the mountain at full capacity, under adequate conditions, in order to offer an experience that meets its standards.” If this is not possible, Le Massif warned that it would be forced to close.

Le Massif has taken note of the desire of the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs du Massif, affiliated with the CSN, to continue the mediation process. On Friday, the conciliator invited both parties to submit additional information that could help them reach an agreement by Jan. 20.

“The minimum expectation is that the settlement framework prepared by the conciliator be presented to employees and put to a vote,” said Claude Choquette, president of Groupe Le Massif, in the same press release.

“Le Massif de Charlevoix needs to know the position of the union and employees quickly. If there is no agreement, arbitration remains an option.”

Union members were informed of the employer’s decision late Friday afternoon via an Info-négo bulletin. They have been invited to a special general meeting where they will be able to review the proposed settlement and vote on it. The date of the meeting has not yet been set.

“However, we must note that this solution shows that the employer is still unwilling to recognize the true value of our work or to make the necessary compromises,” reads the Info-négo message sent by the union’s bargaining and mobilization committees. Instead, it is choosing to use ultimatums and threats to try to break us and force us back to work on our knees.”

Both Groupe Le Massif and the Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs du Massif have declined to comment further on the situation.

The collective agreement for these employees expired on Dec. 31. The wage issue is one of the main sticking points between the two parties.

In addition to the wage issue, the union, which represents some 300 mountain employees, also has demands concerning subcontracting, sick leave, safety, and vacations.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Márquez and Alameda County’s health department hosted an event in Union City on Dec. 8 to address the county’s response to homelessness.

The event took place at the Ruggieri Senior Center, where the city designated the lot as part of the CAREavan Safe Overnight Parking Program for temporarily unhoused individuals/families living in vehicles. “I want to acknowledge the City of Union City for doing their part,” Márquez said.

Other safe parking locations include St. Anne’s Church and Holly Community Center. Our Lady of the Rosary Church and Centro de Servicios in Union City offer free meals for people experiencing homelessness.

Jonathan Russell, director of Housing and Homelessness for Alameda County Health, presented at the event. “Between just 2020 and 2024, the number of people served…increased by 44%. So, significant growth and need,” he said. The county’s homelessness plan will continue to the year 2030, where feedback about housing will be added. Russell said that includes accessible mixed housing.

Former and currently unhoused youth from the Alameda County Youth Advisory Board presented. They said the youth have multiple struggles when experiencing homelessness. They include being part of the foster care system, being formerly incarcerated, drug and alcohol abuse, and being a young parent.

Melissa Moore, with seven years of lived experience being homeless, said there is a huge need for behavioral health specialists, since mental health issues are exacerbated by homelessness. She said the process of encampment sweeping causes people to be “re-traumatized” over and over again because of the short notice and no place to put away their things. Shelters can also be difficult for people with conditions like schizophrenia, which can be affected by being around people.

Another strike is looming at the Montreal Transit Corporation (STM), this time by a union that had not walked out until now, namely the one representing 800 professionals. This union represents professionals, such as engineers, architects, analysts, and consultants. It is a local branch of the Professional and Office Employees Union (SEPB), which is affiliated with the FTQ.

They plan to stage an “overtime strike” from Dec. 17th to Jan. 11th.

In mid-November, its members had given themselves a mandate for a 10-day strike, to be exercised at the appropriate time.

Its vice-president, Benoît Tessier, indicated at the time that it would be the union’s first strike in its 31 years of existence.

The members of this union are subject to the provisions regarding essential services. Discussions will therefore need to take place with the employer on this matter, and then the Administrative Labour Tribunal will be called upon to decide whether the list of essential services is sufficient.

STM management has indicated that “although discussions between the parties still need to take place to establish the essential services to be maintained, no impact on service delivery is expected.”

The union is not ruling out escalating its strike in January. “The overtime strike is just the first step. We will evaluate our other options in January, knowing that we have obtained a strong mandate from our members. Nothing prevents us from increasing the pressure further if STM management remains as intractable at the beginning of 2026,” said Tessier.

This union represents professionals, such as engineers, architects, analysts, and consultants. It is a local branch of the Professional and Office Employees Union (SEPB), which is affiliated with the FTQ.

Approximately 30 meetings have been held between the STM and this union. The parties have been in mediation since October.

“Negotiations are continuing in mediation. As with other union units, the STM is fully mobilized to reach an agreement in order to avoid this strike,” management said.

The union reports that the issue of “maintaining expertise in-house” and job security is crucial for it.

“For our members, this is a fundamental breach of trust in management. The employer wants to have the option of showing the door to its professionals at will, without justification and without limits. This is unacceptable,” stated Tessier.

For its part, management indicates that “the STM wishes to review the parameters for employee relocation, including placement deadlines, to ensure that the right resources are mobilized at the right time and that internal expertise is optimized. Indeed, many projects are funded and time-limited. Job security rules must reflect this reality, so that they are realistic and viable in the current financial context.”

This strike would therefore partially coincide with the one planned by the 2,400 maintenance employees of the STM (Montreal Transit Corporation). They have planned to walk out from Dec. 11 to Jan. 11. This also represents a refusal by the members to work overtime. The Administrative Labour Tribunal is expected to issue a decision regarding essential services to be maintained in their case in the coming days.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews