Our Unit 3 Bargaining Team—representing Professional Educators and Librarians—met with the State today in their first, unit-specific negotiations.
“Today, we set the table for a contract campaign that is responsive to what our members told us in Town Halls and through bargaining surveys,” said Bob Holtz, Unit 3 Bargaining Chair. “We are working to build consensus on what’s good for us and the State, and we’ll do that through collaboration and collegiality throughout the process.”
“We have a mutual goal of a well-prepared, well-trained, and dedicated workforce,” Holtz added. “Now it’s time for the State to recognize us with improvements in pay and in working conditions.”
Key among the day’s efforts was a presentation for a new language that strengthens our ability to model our academic calendar after “best practices” seen in other parts of the educational community—the top priority reported by our Unit 3 members.
We also “rolled over” (maintained current language) on the article that governs the operation of a Joint Labor Management Committee, ensuring that Unit 3 has a seat at the table to improve working conditions in between contract bargaining cycles.
In all, three contract articles were proposed as rollovers, maintaining our hard-fought rights won in previous negotiations:
- Article 5.19.3 – Bargaining Unit 3 Classification and Compensation Committee
- Article 15.4.3 – Employee Opportunity Transfer
- Article 25.9.3 – Teacher Service Credit
Five contract articles presented today contained proposed changes in language to provide greater health and well-being for our members by providing better access to and use of leaves.
- Article 8.21.3 – 9-12, 10-12, and 11-12 Leave
- Article 25.1.3 – DCR, OCE 220 Day Academic Year Annual Modification
- Article 25.3.3 – Educational Leave
- Article 25.4.3 – Holidays (CDCR/OCE)
- Article 25.5.3 – Vacation/Annual Leave
You can review each of our current contract articles online at contract.seiu1000.org
Unit 3’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for April 25. To read about what happened in Tuesday’s other bargaining sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at www.seiu1000.org
There’s real truth to the Local 1000 slogan, Stronger Together. We only win a great contract with a strong Local 1000 membership. So, if you’re not already a member, we encourage you to join us today.