Dear Unit 1 Stewards,
We need your input on a proposal to enhance representation in Bargaining Unit 1.
We continue to transform our union to take on the challenges we face as state employees. We must prepare ourselves to bring a new vision to the table of public service in California. We must work harder and redefine our programs to build a union that works for professional employees.
We listened when thousands of Unit 1 professionals told us there are three major areas where we need to work to address these challenges -- Equity, Opportunity and Professional Development. Although these areas mean different things to professionals in different classifications, the need for change in these areas is consistent across the unit.
In Bargaining Unit 1, we have started to build strength for our contract campaign by focusing our work on professional classification groupings:
- drawing IT professionals together to challenge outsourcing;
- organizing Case Records Analysts to negotiate professional development;
- engaging Planners and Right-of-Way Agents, Auditors, Compliance Representatives; and other classification groups to address pay inequities.
The state plans a major restructure of its entire human resource system in a project called HR Modernization, which presents us with both opportunity and threats -- classification may be consolidated, career paths redefined, and testing systems revamped. Unit 1 has more than 44,000 people working in over 600 classifications at more than 2,000 worksites statewide. We face major pay inequities, barriers to mobility, rampant outsourcing, and little support for professional development. We need more representation and more specialized leadership to focus on our issues to make our union truly work for us.
Please look at the proposal that the current Unit 1 SBAC reviewed and overwhelmingly voted to recommend at the February SBAC meeting. The proposal is to expand and specialize representation for Unit 1, to make us stronger at the table and more effective on issues that impact us in non-bargaining years. Our ultimate goal is to enhance representation of professional employees and organize members and resources of the Union around the specialized needs and concerns of professional employees. We believe this proposal puts us on the path to that goal. So, please take the time to read it.
We urge you to come discuss the attached proposal at meetings of Unit 1 stewards that will be held in Sacramento on February 21, and in Los Angeles, Fresno, Oakland and Rancho Cucamonga on February 23. If you are unable to attend any of these meetings, please visit www.seiu1000.org after March 1 and click on “Unit 1” to give your feedback on the proposal.