Your bargaining team met with the State across two recent bargaining sessions to continue negotiations on contract improvements, workplace protections, and outstanding proposals affecting BU 20 state workers.
Below is a summary of key updates from the sessions.
The BU 20 bargaining team reviewed the bargaining tracker/matrix to assess all outstanding proposals. At the time of review, there were 39 outstanding union proposals.
Current Session Updates:
20.17.20 – Post and Bid Procedure for Residential Care Specialist (RCS) Positions: California Veterans Homes
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Management presented a counterproposal with minor language edits.
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The union immediately issued a counterproposal.
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The item remains under negotiation and pending management response.
20.13.20 – Shift/Day Off Preference of Assignment – Schools for the Deaf
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Management issued a Tentative Agreement (TA) with no changes to existing language.
10.32.20 – Information Regarding Medical Condition
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Management issued a Tentative Agreement (TA) with no changes to existing language.
13.31.20 – 20/20 Programs
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Management rejected the union’s proposed language change and requested that the existing contract language remain.
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The union proposal sought to require the State to develop policy language rather than only doing so upon union request.
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No agreement was reached, and the article remains under negotiation.
New Union Proposal: 11.XX.20 – Dental Assistant Classification Study
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The union introduced a new proposal to evaluate alternative criteria for the Dental Assistants’ range.
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Purpose: address concerns that it can take approximately 10 years for employees to reach top pay.
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This proposal includes a study of classification structure and pay progression.
19.27.20 – Overtime Distribution Task Force for Fremont Special Schools
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Management proposed removing this article entirely from the contract.
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This article originally established a joint union-management task force to improve overtime distribution practices.
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The union opposed removal, noting it was previously negotiated and implemented after ratification.
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Management’s position is that the existing procedure is sufficient and should remain outside the contract.
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The union will be submitting a counterproposal to retain this article.
Across both sessions, management issued multiple existing contract language Tentative Agreements, including:
8.27.20 – Dependent Care Leave
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Article 11 sections
11.16.20 – Alternate Range (AR) 40
11.19.20 – Recruitment and Retention
11.63.20 – Certified Nursing Assistant/EMT Pay Differential
11.75.20 – Assistive Technology Specialist Pay Differential, Department of State Hospitals and Department of Veterans Affairs -
Article 13 sections – TAs with no substantive changes
13.32.20 – Education and Training Opportunities
13.33.20 – Mandatory Training
13.34.20 – Non-Mandatory Training
Key areas still awaiting meaningful movement from the State include:
Vacation language
Post and Bid (including CCHCS-related items)
VOT/MOT provisions
Swaps
Additional workplace protections and operational procedures
Your bargaining team remains committed to securing fair contract language, stronger workplace protections, and accountability for all BU 20 state workers. We will continue to keep you informed as negotiations progress.
In solidarity,
BU 20 Bargaining Team
Heather Markovich, Chair – CCHCS
Sarah Kirkendall, Vice Chair – CCHCS
Ricky Barnes, Alternate Vice Chair – CalVet
Helen Rangel – CCHCS
Silas Wagner – State Special Schools