As our bargaining team builds momentum at the negotiating table, members up and down the state are taking action in the workplace in support of a fair contract and an across-the-board wage increase.

"Our progress at the table is a direct result of our members standing up and projecting power that demonstrates our 95,000 members are "all in" to protect and improve our wages, benefits and working conditions," said Margarita Maldonado, Local 1000 vice president for bargaining.

"Our June 5 rally on the west steps of the State Capitol will demonstrate to legislators and the public that we are committed to California and ready to fight," Maldonado said.

As our bargaining team prepares to work through the Memorial Day weekend, it is clearer than ever that the most important thing members can do to win a better contract is to project power at our June 5 rally at the Capitol.

Most of our bargaining team spent the afternoon visiting worksites in the Sacramento area to encourage members to attend our June 5 "I'm All In" rally on the west steps of the state Capitol.  Our bargaining team is making it a priority to go out to talk to members so they know how important it is to attend. If you haven't already signed up, we need you to make it a priority to be at the June 5 "I'm All In" rally. 

In a short day of bargaining, Local 1000 and the state focused on continuing hard-won rights and protections from previous contracts. 

Local 1000 came prepared this morning to negotiate. However, the state disrupted and delayed the process by missing a 10 a.m. appointment at a DMV call center in Sacramento. 

Once bargaining resumed, our team was able to have a discussion on several proposals.

"It's clear from the state's attitude toward bargaining that we need to bring as much pressure as possible on June 5 at our rally at the Capitol," said Margarita Maldonado, vice president for bargaining. 

We resume Master Table bargaining tomorrow. 

Local 1000 went back to negotiate at the Master Table today for the first time since April 26. Since then, attendees at worksite and town hall meetings across California signedover 300 "I'm All In!" posters to support our fight for a safe and bully-free workplace. State representatives were awestruck as they walked into the negotiating room this afternoon to see the walls and ceiling covered in those posters. "It was a sign to the state that our members are behind us in this fight," said Vice President for Bargaining Margarita Maldonado. "It's inspiring to see what we can do when we exercise our power."

 

This week, Local 1000 returned to the negotiating table to meet with representatives from the state and continue bargaining for our new contract. The state spent the last two weeks reviewing the proposals we gave them in April - 31 Master Table proposals affecting all Local 1000-represented employees and 50 different proposals affecting our nine individual bargaining units.

During that same time, the bargaining team took this opportunity to host seven town hall and 158 worksite meetings up and down the state. They updated members and encouraged them to become active because each member is critical to a successful contract fight. Before and after each town hall meeting, bargaining team members spoke one-on-one with attendees, connecting with them on a more personal level to hear their comments and answer their questions.

All this week, bargaining unit teams are meeting with the state to discuss unit specific issues. To read updates on certain bargaining units, simply visit their specific page.

Between April 29 and May 10, more than 100 Bargaining Update Meetings are scheduled at worksites all over California to inform members about our bargaining progress. Our bargaining team members are working hard to build upon our previously hard-fought contract wins by strengthening employee rights and benefits, providing additional compensation and improving our medical coverage.

At these meetings, you will receive information regarding what we have presented to the state, any resulting developments, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. You'll also have an opportunity to become part of a Contract Action Team (CAT) to deliver news about bargaining and contract actions to your coworkers. Our contract starts and ends with you! Be sure you're there every step of the way! 

Local 1000's bargaining team signed the first tentative agreement of our new contract at the master table today, one that provides a huge advance in our fight against outsourcing.

The agreement makes permanent the Budget Solutions Task Force that was established by the June 2012 Side Letter Agreement. The ongoing work of the task force is to achieve real savings by reviewing and analyzing private vendor contracts. It also reduces the use of outsourced work that can be done more efficiently and at less expense by state employees.

Our bargaining team presented a new proposal today that would limit the state's ability to use retired annuitants and student assistants - another provision of the side letter agreement to be made a permanent article in our contract.

Today's negotiations also included further discussion of our proposal to improve the business and travel expense article. Local 1000 members provided expert testimony about out-of-date and insufficient reimbursement and per diem rates.

Local 1000 returns to the bargaining table tomorrow and again on Friday.