There's a disconnect by the state about our work

May 1, 2008
The Local 1000 IT Reclass bargaining team resumed negotiations with the state Monday and Wednesday of this week on the state’s proposal to create a new IT classification and selection process. The goal is an up-to-date process that will make it easier and faster for the individual IT to find the position he/she wants and easier and faster for the state to find the right IT professional for the job.

The IT Reclass team and the state continued a detailed review of thirteen proposed functional areas. So far, both sides are in agreement with over 90% of this part of the proposal.

However, discussions got heated about the "definition of levels:" the state is attempting to redefine the expertise and quality of work being done – essentially "dumbing down" and devaluating current IT levels.

"There’s a disconnect by the state about the professionalism and sophistication of the real work that is happening in the field," said Vincent Green, Associate AISA in Rancho Cordova and IT Reclass Bargaining Team Member. "They don’t realize the amount of independent judgment or our level of responsibility."

Your IT reclass team says the proposed new IT Specialist I level (composed of AISAs, Associate SSSs and Associate Programmer Analysts) should be the journey-level. The state disagrees and claims this is a "technical, working" level.

Your IT reclass team says the proposed new IT Specialist II level (Staff ISAs, Staff Programmer Analysts and SSS Is) is the advanced level. " The state disagrees and says this is the first journey level.

Because the state is unavailable, face-to face bargaining will resume in June. However, agreement was reached to share documents and proposed revisions in an effort to continue to work through numerous issues.

In June, the team plans to submit an equity salary proposal, in order to bring IT salaries in line with other employers.

As bargaining continues, it’s imperative that the state sees your support for your IT Reclass Bargaining Team. So please, sign the on-line IT Reclassification petition!

Click here to sign the petition.