Unit 1’s bargaining team returned to the negotiation table on April 30th and May 5th with a continued focus on reducing unsustainable workloads and increasing compensation for underpaid workers in Unit 1 classifications.

On April 30th bargaining team members presented proposals related to workload burdens at EDD and fair compensation concerns at the California Lottery.

In response to the State’s rejection of our initial proposal regarding EDD workloads, Vincent Green, Information Technology Specialist, at the Department of Veterans Affairs and Unit 1 Alternate Vice Chair said “the management team at EDD is out of touch with its workforce.”

The team also presented a proposal to increase the bonus that Lottery field staff receive. State Lottery contributions have steadily increased to nearly $2 Billion since its inception and currently has record sales at $9 billion helping to bolster California’s economy. Unit 1 field sales staff are the driving force behind the Lottery’s sales growth yet their bonus is not reflective of the sales growth.

Our Unit 1 team is still in discussions with the State team on both topics.

On May 5 Unit 1 went back to the negotiation table this time with a focus on Special Salary Adjustments (SSA’s). Unit 1 brought in numerous Subject Matter Experts to discuss the unique recruitment, retention, vacancy, workload challenges and pay disparities within their classifications.

Unit 1 Subject Matter Experts from our specialist, analyst, auditor, and appraiser classifications did an outstanding job of describing the critical role they play in revenue collection and public auditing, oversight, public safety, real estate transactions, acquiring and divesting state assets. The State has not yet responded to our SSA proposals.

Unit 1 returns to the table on May 7th.

Don’t forget to watch for weekly updates coming out Thursdays at 9 a.m.