Search: 06/2015

A coalition of anti-union, anti-public employee groups, including the National Right to Work Committee, launched their latest attack against public employee pensions and the hard-earned retirement security of state workers.

Their misleading campaign, called the “Voter Empowerment Act of 2016,” would undermine collective bargaining and require voter approval for changes to pensions and other retirement benefits, including medical insurance. The initiative will soon move into the signature-gathering phase and will appear on the ballot next year.

A new ballot initiative filed last week to appear on the 2016 ballot, would bypass the collective bargaining table and effectively freeze retirement benefits for Local 1000-represented employees at the current contract level, requiring voter approval for any enhancement of those benefits.

Any alterations in cost of living adjustments, pension calculations, changes in vesting or lowering the age of retirement eligibility would all be subject to a statewide vote—even if they are successfully bargained in a contract.

Local 1000 has launched a comprehensive survey that will advance the effort to review job specifications that have not been updated in decades.

We have made it a high priority to resolve the problems with IT classifications, training, compensation and outsourcing. The state has committed to working with the union by modernizing the IT classification system. Both parties recognize a mutual interest in adapting to the changes in a field with a highly competitive labor market. 

Your Program Technician Committee met with CalHR and representatives from EDD, DOJ, State Fund and the Personal Management Division (PMD) on May 21, 2015, to continue the process of reviewing the Program Technician classification series through our Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) outlined in Contract Article 14.16.4.

Local 1000  bargaining leaders are  monitoring the launch of a new electronic records system that California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) hopes will streamline health care services in state prisons. Called Electronic Health Records System (EHRS), the system will begin its rollout in October.

On May 27th, the Unit 15 Statewide Upward Mobility Team met with representatives from DSH, EDD, CDCR and DDS to continue working on improving members’ access to the state’s upward mobility resources. The team included Jesse Aranda (DSH), Garth Underwood (CDCR), Shavone Brown (DGS), Rueben Cooley Jr. (CDCR), Ellis Washington (EDD) and Contract Department staff. 

Local 1000 members are monitoring the implementation of a new electronic records system that will streamline health care services in state prisons. Called Electronic Health Records System (EHRS), the system will begin its rollout in October.

Swift and decisive action by Local 1000’s legal department shut down a hostile manager’s suppression of our members’ right to conduct union activities at Department of Social Services (DSS). The union’s determination to not let bullying behavior stand forced DSS to agree to completely withdraw spurious charges against our members. 

“We’ll do whatever it takes to get these kinds of bogus adverse actions removed,” said Tamekia N. Robinson, vice president for organizing/representation. “There’s no way we will tolerate bullying of our stewards.”