Unit 17: Registered Nurses
Unit 17
Registered Nurses
Unit 17 includes registered nurses who work in California prisons, veteran’s homes, developmental centers, mental health hospitals, departments of healthcare services and public health, special schools and other departments that serve Californians.
Unit 17 Bargaining Updates
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
As Unit 17 returns to the table once again to negotiate with the State, our bargaining team is fighting to solve the urgent problems faced by Registered Nurses and make their needs a priority at the table.
Unit 17’s bargaining session opened with a presentation from a subject matter expert, Dr. Taffany Hwang, who presented the troubling situation facing nurses in state service. Rising separation rates, which have led to high vacancy rates are crippling nurse’s ability to provide high-standard quality care to California’s vulnerable population. Overworked, underpaid, and undervalued, nurses are burnt out and need solutions now.
“Our focus today was upward mobility and compensation, and we have proposed major reforms,” said Vanessa Seastrong, Unit 17 Chair. “These issues have plagued nurses throughout the last three years leading to separation rates above the national average and crisis-level vacancy rates.”
The new language sections proposed today address some of the most critical issues facing nurses.
Unit 17 proposed the following three sections of the new language today:
- 11.X.17 Salary Adjustments (Unit 17)
- 11.17.17 Recruitment and Retention Differential (R&R) (Unit 17)
- 13.11.17 Nursing and Upward Mobility Joint Labor Management Committee (Unit 17)
Responding to the State’s concerns voiced at Mandatory Overtime Committees last year, Unit 17 proposed language to automatically implement a recruitment and retention differential of $800 for any department that has a vacancy rate of 20% or greater.
“We believe this will help departments that are understaffed by improving retention and compensating overworked nurses,” said team member Sheila Coonan.
Unit 17 also proposed an article today that recognizes and addresses the cost-of-living crisis impacting nurses.
“Nursing should be seen as an attractive position in state service,” said Alternate Vice Chair Bob Mutebi. “We want the state to show the value of these positions by raising salaries to compete with private sector wages. Fair pay is vital to nurses, leading to safer staffing and patient care.”
Unit 17 proposed a 15% salary adjustment, in addition to whatever GSI is ultimately reached at the Master Table. The bargaining team is continuing to focus on raising the wages of nurses who have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long.
Implementing an upward mobility ladder would help retain experienced nurses by giving them opportunities to advance within Unit 17 and to mentor coworkers.
“Dr. Hwang did a very good job identifying the issues in upward mobility in her classification, as a Nurse Consultant III,” said team member Felicia Barbato. “In general, it’s hard for a lot of nurses to have opportunities to advance in their classifications without having to go into management or leave the state.”
While our Unit 17 bargaining team continues to negotiate with the State, we continue to prioritize the demands voiced by registered nurses at the table.
Today, the State reached a tentative agreement on the following sections:
- 9.21.17 Reasonable Accommodation (Unit 17)
- 10.7.17 Protective Clothing and Equipment (Unit 17)
- 10.38.17 Rest Areas (Unit 17)
- 13.25.17 Mandatory Training (Unit 17)
- 19.6.17 Show Up Time (Unit 17)
- 19.16.17 Change in Shift Assignment (Unit 17)
- 19.17.17 Mixed Shift Work Weeks (Unit 17)
- 19.19.17 Work Week Group (WWG) Definitions (Unit 17)
- 21.19.17 Nursing Policy and Procedures Manual (Unit 17)
Additionally, Unit 17 received the State’s counter proposal on the following section:
- 10.11.17 Hazardous Materials (Unit 17)
The State proposed one rollover section to the union at today’s bargaining session:
- 10.37.17 Wellness Programs (Unit 17)
“In the next four sessions of bargaining, we hope to see counterproposals offered and tentative agreements reached on our outstanding article sections,” said Seastrong.
Unit 17 returns to the table next week, on Tuesday, June 6. To see updates on other bargaining unit contract sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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.
And be sure to save your spot for the upcoming June 8 March to the Governor’s mansion here.
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
While Unit 17 continues to negotiate with the State, our bargaining team is making sure that the voices and needs of Registered Nurses are a priority at the table.
Today’s bargaining session began with our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Two nurse practitioners joined the bargaining team to present the justification for their proposed 30-40% pay increase.
In addition, four rank-and-file Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses (HFENs) from across the state provided background on the work they do to serve the most vulnerable members of the public, sharing heartfelt stories from their work experiences. They spoke on the issues they face in their work environment, including a 23% vacancy rate, ongoing backlogs, and low salaries.
“Our members are passionate about these issues,” said bargaining team member Sheila Coonan. “We want to voice their demands at the bargaining table.”
The State needs to provide its Registered Nurses a livable wage. Our proposals today address the financial gap experienced by HFENs. HFENs from across the state are sent to Los Angeles to help relieve the backlog. While there, they work alongside LA County nurses in the same classification while making 30% less.
“Very rarely are HFENs in Los Angeles long enough to take advantage of the travel incentive,” said bargaining team member Felicia Barbato. “We have proposed expanding the verbiage so all HFENs sent to LA will reap the benefits they’ve earned.”
Additionally, nurses required to wear professional attire have never had a clothing allowance in spite of the financial difficulties they have incurred.
“We are representing the state in our work environment, and we need to be professionally dressed,” said Barbato. “The state needs to provide a reasonable allowance for RNs to be prepared for work.”
Nurse practitioners have not had a special salary adjustment since 2006. Because of this, their wages are not comparable to the private sector.
In order to make up all these differences in compensations across these three classifications, BU 17 passed three financial proposals today to the State:
- 11.1.17 – Special Salary Adjustments (Unit 17) – 30%
- 11.59.17 – Health Facilities Evaluator Nurse LA County Travel Incentive –
California Department of Public Health (Unit 17) – $167 per day
- 12.X.17 – Professional Clothing Allowance (Unit 17) – $450 per year
The state offered Tentative Agreements for the following rollover sections:
- 2.4.17 - Distribution of Union Information (Unit 17)
- 5.17.17 – Classification Recruitment and Retention Committee (Unit 17)
- 14.20.17 – Classification Reviews (Unit 17)
Our team has made it very clear to the State that movement at the table is crucial. “We are waiting for responses to a remaining 60 proposed article sections,” said Vanessa Seastrong, Unit 17 Chair. “These need to be addressed in the next 4 weeks of bargaining.”
Unit 17 returns to the table next week, on Tuesday, May 30. To see updates on other bargaining unit contract sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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.
And be sure to save your spot for the upcoming June 8 March to the Governor’s mansion here.
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
As we enter another week of bargaining with the State for a contract that respects, protects, and pays the workers who have kept California running, our Bargaining Unit 17 team returned to the table on May 16.
In spite of the number of articles that were considered today, the pace of negotiations still must remain high to address all sections that must be approved. “We will see movement forward if the State will provide counter proposals for article sections we have submitted, allowing negotiations to actually begin,” said BU 17 Chair Vanessa Seastrong.
Unit 17 proposed the following remaining rollover article sections:
· 8.25.17 – DSH Vacation Scheduling
· 13.18.17 - Professional Practice Groups
· 21.19.17 - Nursing Policy and Procedures Manual
· 21.20.17 - Labor Management Committee – Nurse Utilization
· 21.21.17 - Contract Violation Waiver
· 21.22.17 - Licensure
· Appendix N –
1.17 – Departmental Approved Courses and Application Procedures for Educational Differential
2.17 – FLSA Exempt Employee Differential
7.17 – Activation of Correctional Treatment Centers (CTCs)
16.17 – Side Letter
Unit 17 proposed new language for the following article sections:
· 8.26.17 - Department of Veterans Affairs Vacation Scheduling
· 10.19.17 - Prevention and Management of Assaultive Behavior or Therapeutic Strategies and Interventions Training (PMAB/TSI)
DVA Vacation Scheduling is a section the Union and the State worked on together back in 2021. During bargaining, the team wants to make sure that the policy implemented last year for vacation schedules is standardized throughout the department by ensuring it becomes part of the contract.
“The problem we had with DVA was there was no standardized process for vacation time,” said Sheila Coonan, DVA Redding. “We met with the State and took the ideas we liked and collaborated to build this policy that we implemented. Across the board, everyone at my facility loved it. Nurses knew exactly what vacation time they had when they walked out the door. It helped solve issues of preferential treatment and confusion, creating a fair and equitable standard for all DVA members across the state.”
The bargaining team proposed new language to strengthen section 10.19.17 noted above so that our members can be trained and educated in how to protect themselves from assaultive behaviors which can happen in state facilities. “The PMAB training is part of DVA and DDS where we are supposed to receive training every two years. Prior to Covid, the last time it was offered in my workplace was in 2018. We pushed on how important it is to add DVA because this training must be introduced across the board for any workers who face these situations”, said Sheila.
“Our new language proposal includes TSI training that should be provided upon hire, as this secures the worksites of CDCR/CCHCS and the safety of the nurses,” said BU 17 Alternate Vice Chair Bob Mutebi. “We all expect to come back from our jobs in one piece. But when the state neglects to provide us with this training, it puts us all at risk.”
Finally, we reached tentative agreement with the State on the following sections:
· 9.19.17 - Light/Limited Duty Assignments
· 10.24.17 - Immunization Against Diseases
· 10.25.17 - Infectious Disease Control
· 10.35.17 - Employee Self-Protection
· 13.18.17 - Professional Practice Groups
· 13.26.17 - Non-Mandatory Training
· 13.27.17 - In-Service Training
· 21.20.17 - Labor Management Committee – Nurse Utilization
· 21.21.17 - Contract Violation Waiver
· 21.22.17 - Licensure
You can read the details of these and all current contract articles at contract.seiu1000.org
The team has made headway today with the State, reaching tentative agreement on a number of important article sections. “We informed them that we’ve provided all of our rollover language and that we need some counter proposals on our future article sections,” said team member Sheila Coonan. “We received four more tentative agreements for rollover sections later in the day, and we proposed two new language sections at the table after lunch.”
Movement at the table is a good sign for the future of negotiations, but the State still needs to provide counter proposals or tentative agreements to these outstanding sections. “Next week, I expect more rollovers to be returned,” said Seastrong. “We need to receive counters so we can negotiate on the articles that matter to our members. The ball is in their court.”
Unit 17’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for May 23. To read about what happened in Monday’s Bargaining Unit 11, 15, 20, and 21 sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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.
And be sure to save your spot for the upcoming June 8 March to the Governor’s mansion here.
Bargaining Unit 17 & 20 Recap: Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Happy Nurses’ Week from your Bargaining Unit 17 (BU 17) and Bargaining Unit 20 (BU 20) Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committees (BUNC). While we celebrate the work nurses do across the country, SEIU Local 1000-represented nurses went to the table on May 9 to focus on Mandatory Overtime and Voluntary Overtime, which affect our nurses statewide.
Of primary concern to almost all state nurses is the issue of Mandatory Overtime (MOT). “This morning, BU 17 and 20 together met with the State to pass our voluntary and mandatory overtime article sections,” said Unit 17 Chair Vanessa Seastrong. “Today at the table a large volume of new proposals were presented from both bargaining teams to address these issues. We passed a total of 10 proposals, 4 for Unit 17 and 6 for Unit 20,” said Seastrong. “As we expected, the State received these MOT article sections but didn’t ask many clarifying questions, and we are still awaiting a counter proposal.”
BU 17 proposed the following article sections containing new language regarding Mandatory Overtime (MOT):
- Article 19.14.17 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services (Unit 17)
- Article 19.15.17 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling (Excluding CDCR) (Unit 17)
- Article 19.22.17 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services (Unit 17)
- Article 19.23.17 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling (Excluding CDCR) (Unit 17)
BU 20 proposed these article sections addressing MOT for their unit as well:
- Article 19.13.20 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – Excluding CDCR LVNs and CNAs (Unit 20)
- Article 19.14.20 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services LVNs (Unit 20)
- Article 19.15.20 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services CNAs (Unit 20)
- Article 19.21.20 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling – Excluding CDCR LVNs and CNAs (Unit 20)
- Article 19.22.20 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services LVNs (Unit 20)
- Article 19.23.20 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services CNAs (Unit 20)
You can read the details of these and all current contract articles at contract.seiu1000.org
Currently, a holdover of less than two hours is not counted as mandatory overtime. “This is an inconvenience and demoralizing for many of our members,” said BU 17 Alternate Vice Chair Bob Mutebi. “An hour means a lot of someone’s day. Our new proposal is to have a holdover of one hour to be counted as MOT.”
These issues led to the team proposing a change to the existing MOT language. “We proposed that the State reduce the number of mandatory overtime shifts by one a year until we get to zero,” said BU 20 Chair Heather Markovich. “We also proposed language to strengthen the voluntary overtime process.”
Currently, BU 17 RNs can be mandated for two overtime shifts per month, while BU 20 CNAs and LVNs have three. “We want to reduce this down to 1 for RNs and 2 for LVNs and CNAs,” said Seastrong. “We would continue to reduce MOT by one shift per year until 2025 when Unit 17 and 20 will both have zero.”
Other changes to the article sections strengthen contract language so that our workers can take the shifts that they want to work and gives state employees preference over external registry. “We want the state to address these article sections,” said Seastrong. “For the last three years, we’ve been in a Mandatory Overtime Task Force, and nothing was done. Without language to make them get this problem under control, we don’t think this issue will be solved. The state has violated this agreement in the past, so stronger language and protections are needed.”
Another ongoing issue addressed during the joint session was language proposed by the units that ensured that BU 17 and BU 20 nurses cannot be mandated into another bargaining unit position. “Unit 17 and Unit 20 are being mandated into other BU positions. “We are being used to plug gaps in the state’s workforce,” said Mutebi.
“Today, state workers stood up and told the State that this practice accounts for the huge turnover in the state’s workforce,” said Mutebi. “This represents a huge disrespect for our LVNs, who are forced to cover for workers making more money when they themselves are not paid equally,” said Markovich.
To ensure that these protections are enforced, bargaining units proposed language that includes penalties for the state when these terms are violated. “We included in this proposal that when mandatory overtime shifts are required of state workers after we bring them down to zero, the state will have to pay a penalty of double-time for any mandated shift,” said Markovich.
The two units worked together to present these major proposals to the State. These issues have been ongoing for years while managers have ignored the problem. By joining together, the two units were able to support each other and provide insight to the State regarding the impacts on nurses. “Mandatory overtime has a huge impact on nursing staff, so we have to come together to fight this issue, because it affects all of us, especially after all of us were working mandatory overtime during COVID,” said BU 20 Vice Chair Sarah Cooper.
The fight for this important protection is on. “The nurses’ actions in the workplace are what brought the State to the table on this issue in 2019,” said Seastrong. “We need to see that same energy now to move the State to take our proposals seriously. We need actions in the workplace so the State can see how bad the nurses want mandatory overtime to go away.”
“In 24-hour facilities, there is no separation between these units,” said Mutebi. “Neither of us can say our job is complete without each other. When we come together at the table, it shows the synergy of these two units fighting the injustices that the state is trying to put on our membership.”
In addition to article sections passed during the joint session, Unit 17 proposed the following rollover sections:
- Article 19.4.17 – Meal Periods (Unit 17)
- Article 19.6.17 – Show Up Time (Unit 17)
- Article 19.7.17 – Report Preparation Time (Unit 17)
- Article 19.9.17 – Exchange of Days Off (Unit 17)
- Article 19.16.17 – Change in Shift Assignment (Unit 17)
- Article 19.17.17 – Mixed Shift Work Weeks (Unit 17)
- Article 19.19.17 – Work Week Group (WWG) Definitions (Unit 17)
- Article 19.24.17 – Floating (Unit 17)
- Article 19.25.17 – Travel Time (Unit 17)
- Article 19.26.17 – Workweek Correctional Institutions (Unit 17)
Finally, the State offered tentative agreements to the following article sections.
- Article 8.13.17 – Court Appearances and/or Subpoenas (Excludes Unit 17)
- Article 13.2.17 – Informal Performance Discussions (Unit 17)
- Article 13.6.17 – Performance Appraisal (Unit 17)
- Article 13.9.17 – Letters of Instruction (LOI)/Work Improvement Discussion (WID) (Unit 17)
- Article 13.12.17 – Employment Opportunities (Unit 17)
- Article 13.28.17 – Education and Training Opportunities and Resources (Unit 17)
- Article 13.29.17 – Research Projects (Unit 17)
- Article 14.4.17 – Duty Statements/Post Orders and Work Instructions (Unit 17)
- Article 15.4.17 – Employee Opportunity Transfer (Unit 17)
You can read the details of these and all current contract articles at contract.seiu1000.org
After their morning session bargaining alongside Unit 20, Unit 17 had an active day at the table, focusing on rollover language. “It was a busy day on our end,” said Unit 17 Chair Vanessa Seastrong.
“We have given the State 61 article sections of new language and rollover, and we have only received 18 rollover back in total,” said Seastrong. “While receiving the TAs today was a good sign, the State still needs to start dealing with our new language and not just rollover. We have a number of easy article sections with simple changes that are still under review by the State.”
While the State moves through rollover language, SEIU Local 1000 members are ready to fight for a contract that represents the needs identified in their bargaining surveys and Town Hall meetings.
“We’re hoping that the State will come back and begin the negotiations of bargaining, not just tentative agreements for rollovers,” said Seastrong. “We want to get into the details of language changes. We are focused on action to move the State. Nurses are ready in workplaces across the state to take action to support our bargaining team.”
Unit 17’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for May 16. To read about what happened in Monday’s Bargaining Unit 11, 15, 20, and 21 sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
We are entering our third week of bargaining with the State for a contract that respects, protects, and pays the workers who have kept California running. Our Unit 17 Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee, or BUNC, went to the table on May 2 to focus on ways to keep our nurses safe and protected while on the job.
Our Unit 17 BUNC presented thirteen articles as “rollovers,” signaling our desire that the existing language remains unchanged, keeping in place the hard-won rights from previous contract campaigns. The articles proposed for rollover are the following:
- 13.2.17 - Informal Performance Discussion
- 13.9.17 – Letters of Instruction (LOI) /Work Improvement Discussion (WID)
- 13.12.17 – Employment Opportunities
- 13.6.17 – Performance Appraisal
- 13.25.17 – Mandatory Training
- 13.26.17 – Non-Mandatory Training
- 13.27.17 – In-Service Training
- 13.28.17 – Education and Training Opportunities and Resources
- 13.29.17 – Research Projects
- 14.4.17 – Duty Statements / Post Orders, and Work Instructions
- 14.20.17 – Classification Reviews
- 15.4.17 – Employees Opportunity Transfer
- 16.7.17 – Continuation of Benefits
Additionally, the State agreed to four of our articles, and thus, a “tentative agreement” (TA) was reached on the following articles that were rolled over in last week’s negotiations.
- 11.5.17 – Release of Paychecks – Night Shift or First Watch
- 12.6.17 – Alternate Transportation
- 12.10.17 – Replacement of Damaged Personal Clothing and/or Articles
- 12.13.17 – Tools, Business Equipment, Materials, and Supplies
You can read the details of these and all current contract articles at contract.seiu1000.org
During today’s negotiations, the State requested evidence from a subject matter expert on safety. The BUNC was able to bring Charles Staubitz, an SEIU Local 1000 member working as a nurse instructor at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, to present on article 10.5.17 – Safety Orientation.
“It went very well,” said Vice Chair Mary Naidoo. “He made a brilliant presentation to the State about the backlog in training that has created enormous problems.”
Charles stood up for his coworkers and shared with the State the actual training that workers currently get, which covers basic elements of safety policies and procedures essential to doing their job. This training, already part of our contract, is essential to have before starting work in a correctional facility.
“This article currently gives the state 45 days to provide safety training to new employees. We have proposed that this training occurs upon the hiring of the employees. Having a current backlog of three months to one year is unacceptable. Our new members can end up making mistakes that cost them their jobs and can be catastrophic for the rest of us who work in institutions. One mistake by anyone can lead to the death of any of us,” said Alternate Vice Chair Bob Mutebi.
“We did not have as productive a day as we expected due to the State’s delays and time management issues,” said BUNC member Sheila Coonan. “These delays disrespect the time of the bargaining team, especially when we have so little time to move forward on these issues. We have more time-consuming articles that both sides know will require considerable back-and-forth discussion.”
“We have 8 more weeks to bargain before the deadline. With only nine (9) TA’s so far out of our total 47 articles proposed, we need the State to give us more. They’re moving at a snail’s pace,” said Chair Vanessa Seastrong.
Unit 17’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for May 9. To read about what happened in Tuesday’s other bargaining sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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.
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
The registered nurses who work in California prisons, veterans’ homes, developmental centers, mental health hospitals, Departments of Health Care Services and Public Health, special schools, and other departments represented by Local 1000—Bargaining Unit 17—went to the table with the State on April 25th for the second week of negotiations on unit-specific issues.
Our Unit 17 Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) presented eight articles as “rollovers,” signaling our desire that the existing language remains unchanged, keeping in place the hard-won rights from previous contract campaigns. The rollover articles include the following provisions from Articles 11 and 12:
- 11.2.17 – School for the Deaf and Blind Pay Differential
- 11.3.17 – Salary Definition
- 11.5.17 – Release of Paychecks – NOC Shift or First Watch
- 11.18.17 – Retirement Compensation
- 11.58.17 – Arduous Pay Differential
- 12.6.17 – Alternate Transportation
- 12.10.17 – Replacement of Damaged Personal Clothing and/or Articles
- 12.13.17 -Tools, Business Equipment, Materials and Supplies
Additionally, this afternoon, the BUNC proposed new language in the following four contract provisions with financial implications to our members:
- 11.6.17 – Overtime Checks
- 11.56.17 – Registered Nurse Lead Differential
- 11.57.17 – Educational Differential
- 12.18.17 – License Renewal Fees
Finally, the State agreed to five rollover proposals, and thus, a “tentative agreement” was reached on the following provisions:
- 10.10.17 – Medical Monitoring
- 10.15.17 – Personal Alarms: CDCR
- 10.16.17 – Alarm System: DDS and DSH
- 10.18.17 – Referral of Assault/Battery
- 10.36.17 – Incident Debriefing
The articles proposed today that have financial impacts for our members represent an important response to a contentious issue for BU 17 members. “We have issues at some of our worksites where the state delays overtime paychecks up to a year, which is both disrespectful to workers and impacts their pay,” said BUNC Alternate Vice Chair Bob Mutebi. “The night shift lead differential of $150 has been in place since 1999. In spite of the changes over the years, the state is resistant to adjust this to reflect inflation and cost of living changes.”
Additionally, the reimbursement of license renewals fees is often delayed due to the CalATERS reimbursement process, which makes it very difficult for our members to receive the money they are owed. “We want to be reimbursed directly within 60 days of when our licenses expire,” said Mutebi. “With the difficult procedure we have now with CalATERS, many workers give up before the process is completed.”
While this represents a large number of articles sent across the table by the BUNC, the negotiating team has noticed a serious issue with the State’s willingness to address critical issues to our members. “We are not even negotiating on many of these articles yet,” said BUNC 17 Chair Vanessa Seastrong. “We gave them 16 articles for rollover last week, and only received 5 back. This is a disturbing signal that it will take a long time to get through our 92 articles that we need to negotiate. We want to move through these minor issues as soon as possible so we can get to the more meaningful issues that matter to our members.”
Simple language changes proposed by the BUNC are under extensive and unnecessary review by the State’s negotiators. While these kinds of delays are not new, this particular State bargaining team has worked with Unit 17 before and should have a thorough understanding of which issues at play are critical and which are procedural.
“We’re asking the State why they are so resistant to making changes to language that deals with non-financial issues when these are existing protections from earlier contracts, sometimes for many years,” said Seastrong. “Moving past these items, while they are important, would help both sides get to the meaningful changes that we need for our members.”
Our negotiating team is interested in an equitable conversation, not delays over minutia that wastes time and delays important resolutions. “The state of California is supposed to be a union-friendly, progressive state,” said BUNC 17 Vice Chair Mary Naidoo. “We should not be experiencing these kinds of difficulties with our process. The State had a whole week to address articles for which they have never shown they have a problem or made any statements that they had any concerns about.”
These concerns will influence our strategy going forward. “We are going to be choosing our words carefully as we move forward so that we can focus on the issues that matter most to our members: respect in the workplace and equitable pay for all members,” said BUNC 17 member Shelia Coonan.
As always, the State’s responses to bargaining are rooted in the amount of pressure SEIU Local 1000 members apply when on the job. “We are passionate at the table and can speak for what is important to our members. We know the low salaries, high turnover and backlogs are hurting our members and their families. We need actions and noise at the workplace. We need noise. The organized action and the noise in the workplace will support our efforts at the table,” said BUNC member Felicia Barbato. “We increase the pressure as the State feels the heat from members statewide.”
Unit 17’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for May 2nd. To read about what happened in Monday’s Bargaining Unit 11, 20, and 21 sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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
Bargaining Unit 17 Recap: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
After kicking off bargaining for our “master table” session last week, members across the state are making their voices heard as we demand a strong contract that Respects, Protects, and Pays the employees that kept California running for the last three years.
On April 18, Bargaining Unit 17 (BU 17), went to the table to begin their unit-specific negotiations with the State. BU 17, which represents registered nurses, is prepared for a long negotiation to get members the pay and respect they have demanded. Our negotiating team is using what they saw earlier in the process to strategize on how best to move forward and prioritize issues that members identified as important in town halls, bargaining surveys, and worksite visits.
“We looked at each and every submission from our members,” said Bob Mutebi, Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) Alternate Vice Chair for BU 17. “Each article was considered based on this set of data, which determined what we would roll over and what we would propose changes to.”
During Tuesday’s session, our team presented a number of contract articles for “rollover,” a term used to describe parts of the contract that don’t require negotiation this cycle. We rolled over 16 articles Tuesday, with additional minor language changes to 5 articles focused on health and safety concerns. Setting these protections aside during bargaining ensures that we will be able to address the ongoing issues without risking these workplace protections crucial to medical and social services.
“The most important feedback we’ve received from Registered Nurses statewide is work/life balance, scheduling, and salaries”, stated Vanessa Seastrong, Unit 17 Chair.
BU 17 has the most individual articles of all the bargaining units in the contract, with 92 articles whereas most other units have 30 to 40, so negotiations will take longer to go through each article. “Building our strategies around the responses from CalHR allows us to be flexible,” said Seastrong. “These were simple word changes, things that could be handled fairly easily, and we are expecting to have a response from the State next week.”
With this in mind, for upcoming sessions of bargaining, BU17 is going to focus on a strategic approach to address salaries, health, and safety, as well as recruitment and retention issues that have plagued Registered Nurses.
“This is a long process. A lot of these issues are going to go back and forth for a while,” said Felicia Barbato, an RN at the California Department of Public Health for 11 years and a member of the BUNC. “Our success at the table is dependent on the strength and unity of our members.”
“Our members can and do bring the State to the table on issues that are important to us. Members can support their bargaining team at their worksites with Purple Up Wednesdays and by attending events and participating in actions,” said Seastrong.”
Unit 17’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 Bargaining Unit 1, 3, and 4 sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at 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.
CDPH Telework Meet and Confer
Update from April 15, 2022
On Friday, April 15, 2022, our Union met with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regarding the new Telework policy. CDPH stated they support telework department-wide and see telework as a retention and morale booster for CDPH. We had a productive meeting where we learned CDPH is working to address properly resourcing teleworking equipment and functions to ensure the best teleworking environment.
We learned the following:
CalVet Vacation Scheduling Policy
Our Union requested to meet and discuss with the Department of Veteran Affairs (CalVet) to establish written home-wide vacation scheduling procedures for Bargaining Unit 17 and Bargaining Unit 20, per the MOU sections 8.23.20 and 8.26.17. Leadership from each Bargaining Unit, along with Job Stewards from a handful of CalVet Homes, met over several months with CalVet management to establish an annual vacation bidding policy to be implemented at all eight Homes.
The vacation scheduling policy sets the parameters for annual vacation bidding by classification.
2021 SEIU Nurse Alliance National Conference
Tuesday, October 12 through Thursday, October 14, 2021.
SEIU Local 1000 is sharing the following information on the upcoming 2021 SEIU Nurse Alliance National Conference sponsored by the Nurses Alliance of SEIU California which you may find of interest. |
Department of State Hospitals – Patton
Meet and Confer Regarding 12 hour shifts for RNs
On Thursday, August 19, 2021, we met with the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) regarding the change to 12 hour shifts for RNs at Patton State Hospital. While the change to 12 hour shifts is definite and coming, the process and manner in which that change is accomplished and implemented is still being negotiated.
Department of State Hospitals Health and Safety Committee Survey
Every DSH facility is entitled to have a Health and Safety Committee, according to our MOU (contract), Section 10.2. Because of this, members of our Union are working hard to ensure Health and Safety Committees exist and are successful at each facility.
Department of State Hospitals (DSH)
Meet & Confer update
On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, SEIU Local 1000 met with the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to meet and discuss over the status and future of Health and Safety Committees at all five facilities, per Section 10.2 of the MOU. At this meeting, member leaders represented all the DSH facilities, except for Atascadero. Positive steps were taken and will continue in order to ensure success for Health and Safety Committees at each facility to appropriately address concerns collaboratively with management and all staff unions.
Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Update from May 17, 2021
Thank you for all your emails and feedback. Please continue sending your questions, comments, and feedback to unit17@seiu1000.org
We read each email and try to respond accordingly in our updates.
On May 14, 2021, we met with John Tong (Labor Relations Specialist, CDPH) and Susan Espinoza (Deputy Director of Human Resources, CDPH) to discuss outstanding Health Facility Evaluator Nurse issues.
Department of State Hospitals (DSH)
Meet & Confer update
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, SEIU Local 1000 met with the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to meet and confer over DSH’s application for a permanent exemption to the California Standards for Workplace Violence Prevention in Healthcare, which mandates guidelines for reporting to the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) regarding workplace violence incidences.
CDCR CCHCS Entrance Screening Process
Update
On February 4, 2021, our Union met with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) to meet and confer over the implementation of the institutional entrance screening policy at each institution throughout the state.
CCHCS Employee Health Teams (EHTs)
On January 29, 2021
Our Union met with California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) to continue discussing the formation and implementation of an Employee Health Team (EHT) at each institution throughout the state.
Some of the major details from the Meet-and-Confer include:
CCHCS was asked to explain the overall, general status of the Employee Health program and any other relevant information, and they responded with the following updates:
Health Facility Evaluator Nurses (HFEN) Update – January 25, 2021
Thank you for all your emails and feedback. Please continue sending your questions, comments, and feedback to unit17@seiu1000.org We read each email and try to respond accordingly in our updates.
1. UPDATE ON UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE (UPC)
(CCHCS) Employee Health Team (EHT)
Update from October 13, 2020
On October 13, 2020, our Union met with California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) to continue discussing the formation and implementation of an Employee Health Team (EHT) at each institution throughout the state.
Some of the major details from the meet and confer include:
CCHCS Employee Health Teams (EHT) Update
September 29, 2020
On September 29th, 2020, our Union met with California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) to discuss the formation and implementation of an Employee Health Team (EHT) at each institution throughout the State.
Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses (HFEN)
Update from October 2, 2020
1) Two Additional New Notices
Recently, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sent
our Union two new notices of changes in working conditions:
Update: Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Update from September 18, 2020
On September 18, 2020, our Union met with Management for a check-in over the phone. Christina Montserrat and Susan Espinoza attended for CDPH (California Department of Public Health), and Andres Villarto, Kim Cowart, and Mo Kashmiri attended on behalf of our Union.
BU 17 – Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Weekly Update: Friday, August 28, 2020
On August 25, 2020, our Union was notified by members that an email from Heidi Steinecker was sent to staff directing HFENs to sign a new duty statement. Our Union immediately contacted CDPH Labor Relations informing them that we are still in the meet and confer process and our Union had not agreed to any duty statement. We also demanded that the duty statement be withdrawn immediately.
BU 17 – Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Weekly Update: Monday, August 10, 2020
On August 4, 2020, our Union met with representatives from CDPH about outstanding notices. CDPH answered many of our outstanding questions and, based on our previous complaints,
Join and learn how ATD standard protects us from COVID-19
Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD)
Learn about how California’s Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Standard continues to protect us from the novel COVID-19 Virus.
The Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Standard is an enforceable regulation that applies in healthcare, corrections, and other high risk environments.
BU 17 – Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Weekly Update: Tuesday, July 14, 2020
On Thursday, July 9, 2020, we met with management regarding the notice to shift focus of the Health Facility Evaluator Nurse (HFEN) workforce to infection prevention education in Skilled Nursing Facilities.
BU 17 – Health Facilities Evaluator Nurses
Weekly Update: July 3, 2020
Our Union has received two notices from management regarding changes in HFEN working conditions, and we will be meeting with management regarding them on Thursday, July 9, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. Below is more information about the notices:
BU 17 – Registered Nurses
Weekly Update - June 15
On Friday, June 12, 2020, the Union met virtually with CDPH management/HR about several HFEN concerns and we wanted to give you an update.
Q: If HFENs will be assisting with COVID testing, will there be proper training?
BU 17 – Registered Nurses
Update as of April 27, 2020
The health of our staff is paramount, and our Union continues to address concerns from our members, given CDPH’s critical role in this crisis. We have made it clear that the state is required to provide employees a healthy and safe workplace, and they should not put the health of essential workers in jeopardy. Our Union raised the following questions after members from the SFDO raised concerns.
Below are the latest responses we’ve received from Management:
Nurses Alliance Webinar
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Learn about how California’s Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) standard protects us from the novel COVID-19 Virus.
In 2009, a new California occupational health standard was
adopted to protect nurses and other healthcare workers from
infectious agents such as tuberculosis, measles, and pandemic
flu, as well as novel diseases such as COVID-19. The Cal/OSHA
Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Standard is an enforceable
regulation that applies in healthcare, corrections, and other
high-risk environments.
Bilingual Differential Increase Implementation
For the first time in 42 years, we were able to increase the Bilingual Pay Differential to $200/month. This comes after 20 years of fighting for an increase including a joint task force and hundreds of members telling their story. We have been fighting for the implementation of
Bargaining Unit 17 – Update
Health Facility Evaluator Nurses
Update as of April 6, 2020
We know that you are in a fluid emergency situation, and we thank you for the hard work and sacrifices you make on a daily basis to care for California. We are continuing to advocate for you with the Department about issues that are changing almost daily. We wanted to update you on conversations we have had with the department on PPE and working weekends. Below are some of the updates we wanted to share with you.
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Monday, August 19th, 2019
Unit 17 Bargaining Team Wins Important Improvements for Members
Local 1000’s Unit 17 Registered Nurses (RNs) returned to the bargaining table on Sunday, August 19 and signed a number of tentative agreements (TA) that strengthened and protected contract language around issues important to California state nurses.
Units 17 & 20 Joint Bargaining Update for Friday, August 9th, 2019
State Disrespects Nurses Around Mandatory Overtime and Other Issues
On Friday, August 9th, Unit 17 and Unit 20 met with the state together as part of a joint table to discuss issues of mandatory overtime (MOT) and vacation scheduling at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) California Correctional Health Care Services facilities.
“I am very disappointed at the lack of movement by the state,” said Luisa Leuma, Chair of Bargaining Unit 20. “It was a slap in the face that the state didn’t make any movement on these issues.”
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Wednesday, August 7th, 2019
Unit 17 Bargaining Team Protects Professional Development; Fights for Appropriate RN Supervision and Appraisal Process
Local 1000’s Unit 17 bargaining team returned to the negotiation table with the state on August 6, 2019, and was able to sign off on a number of tentative agreements that preserved previous victories important to Unit 17 nurses.
One tentative agreement (TA) from the current contract preserves professional development opportunities. The TA, Paid Educational Leave, allows state nurses to earn the necessary Continuing Education Units required to maintain their licensure as a registered nurse.
Units 17 & 20 Joint Bargaining Update for Monday, August 5th, 2019
Units 17 and 20 Bargain Jointly with the State Over Mandatory Overtime & Vacation Schedules
Our bargaining teams representing Unit 17 (Registered Nurses) and Unit 20 (Medical and Social Service Specialists) met jointly with the state on Monday, August 5, 2019, to negotiate over issues impacting members in both units.
“It’s past time for mandatory overtime to be eliminated,“ said Luisa Leuma, chair of bargaining unit 20. “We’re working to improve the work/life balance of our members and to get rid of mandated overtime shifts.”
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Tuesday, July 31, 2019
Unit 17 Bargaining Team Passes Proposals to Enhance RN Workplace and Fix the Post & Bid Process
On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Unit 17 went back to the bargaining table in the latest stage of our ongoing battle to create a safe, equitable workplace and deliver job satisfaction for our 5300+ Registered Nurses across California.
“We presented two new proposals and signed 34 tentative agreements on numerous articles of hard-earned roll-over language that had been previously negotiated,” said Bob Mutebi, RN (CHCF) and Unit 17 BUNC member.
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Friday, July 26, 2019
Unit 17 Presses State for a Better Work/Life Balance for Nurses
Unit 17 bargaining team went to the table Friday and continued its efforts to create opportunities for better work schedules.
Many of our nurses work in 24-hour facilities and often are subject to management’s rigid scheduling practices, which don’t offer a lot of flexibility and few chances to make changes. In response, our team submitted stronger contract language for adjustable scheduling opportunities.
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Friday, July 19, 2019
Nurses bring real-life stories of their work to the state in support of better pay and working conditions.
Unit 17 RNs met with state negotiators to drive home the value of their work and the daily challenges they face in providing quality care to our most vulnerable patients.
Members from Unit 17 provided compelling stories of unreasonable workloads caused by recruitment and retention challenges resulting from below-market pay in a competitive landscape. Telling their stories, our nurses shared their passion for their profession and gave their patients a voice.
Our Fight Begins Now for a California for All!
A Message from President Walker
Yesterday, July 18, 2019, our Local 1000 bargaining team brought to the table proposals that addressed four of the most important issues identified by our members: health care, housing, transportation justice and a livable wage. Listen to President Yvonne R. Walker explain how the fight begins now for a California for All!
Unit 17 Bargaining Update for Tuesday, July 9, 2019
RN’s Head to the Bargaining Table
The SEIU Unit 17 bargaining team met for the first time with state negotiators on Tuesday, July 9, to represent the interests of the over 5300 Registered Nurses across California. During the session, Unit 17-represented members made presentations about their job classification, putting a face on the challenging and often dangerous situations they encounter on a daily basis.
GeoPay Task Force Presents and Releases Report
Our fight for economic justice continues as we set the stage for contract negotiations.
On February 27, our GeoPay Task Force presented the acting director of CalHR and a team of state representatives with an in-depth report recommending solutions to the economic challenges many state workers face caused by the high cost of living in the communities they live and work in throughout the state of California.
DJJ Cellsense Meet and Confer
On August 7th, 2018, our union met with the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Department of Juvenile Justice (CDCR DJJ) to discuss the implementation of the Cellsense Contraband Detector program within the DJJ Facilities in the state.
New bargaining team members elected as work begins on 2020 contract negotiations
We're building member power to leverage a great contract.
More than 150 newly-elected and returning bargaining representatives, members of the Statewide Bargaining Advisory Committee (SBAC), came together on July 14-15, taking important steps on the road to contract negotiations that will begin next year.
Also elected was the 58-member Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC)—representatives from each of the nine bargaining units in Local 1000—the bargaining team responsible for negotiating our new contract.
Take Action: Tell CCHCS to Stop Violating our Post and Bid Right
CCHCS is stalling Post and Bid by not providing PASs and MARs for stewards and union leaders to review for the meet and discuss on ratios.
Post and Bid is a hard-fought and long protected union right. The fight continues as we must hold CCHCS accountable to our contract.
Call MaryAnn Monahan, CCHCS Labor Relations Manager, and tell her:
“Stop violating our contract. Provide our stewards and union leaders with the PASs and MARs.”
MaryAnn can be reached at: 916.662.6494
PROVIDING OUR MEMBERS WITH UPWARD MOBILITY
New slots open up in IT Apprenticeship Program
Professional development and upward mobility are key priorities for our union, and our members, and an innovative new Information Technology (IT) Apprenticeship Program offers Sacramento-area members an opportunity to improve their state careers.
Pay raises in effect
2016 was a historic year for our members, our union and all Californians. We came together to fight for a contract we can all be proud of and nearly went on strike for the first time in 44 years.
As a result, we won the largest labor contract ever negotiated with the state, and we did it by standing together in our union. You can view our contract here.
Starting August 1, we’re receiving our first paycheck reflecting our 4% general salary increase—one of the many outcomes that we won in contract negotiations.
DDS Developmental Center Retention Stipend Agreement Overview
Highlights:
- Effective date: July 1, 2016
- Amount: Up to $6,000
- $250 is accrued for all employees that meet the criteria each full quarter during the fiscal year 2016/2017
- $500 is accrued for all employees that meet the criteria each full quarter effective July 1, 2017 until separation from DDS.
- Payout:
- There will be two payouts of the retention stipend:
- January 2018 or the first month following the 50% decr
- There will be two payouts of the retention stipend:
Lift & Shift Team Protects Rights, Compensation in Upcoming Transition
Members affected by the upcoming transfer of the Psychiatric Programs at several correctional medical facilities have had their rights, respect and compensation secured and protected after our bargaining team met with state and department representatives to negotiate the impacts of the move from DSH to CDCR and CCHCS.
The transition affects members in Units 1, 4, 15 and 17 at Salinas Valley State Prison, the California Medical Facility in Vacaville and the California Health Care Facility in Stockton.
“Lift and Shift” Bargaining Update for June 5
SEIU Local 1000 Met with the State to Negotiate Impacts of the “Lift and Shift” on the Psychiatric Programs at Vacaville, Stockton and Salinas
On June 5, 2017, SEIU Local 1000 met with representatives from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to negotiate the impacts of the transfer of the Psychiatric Programs from DSH to CDCR and CCHCS at Salinas Valley State Prison – Salinas, California Medical Facilit
Bargaining News for Friday, October 14
State shows a lack of movement as we return to the table - Our actions will make the difference for a contract we can be proud of
Our bargaining team met with the state for the first time in three months and ended the week frustrated by a continued lack of movement by the state on key issues.
Earlier in the week, our team presented eye-opening information illustrating the gender pay gap in state civil service. Our union is 66% women and 34% men. The seven unions the state has reached agreement with, overwhelmingly comprised of men, are paid a staggering 43% more than Local 1000 members.
SPB Approves New Medical Assistant Classification
Local 1000 Will Meet with the State on the Creation of the New Classification
The State Personnel Board (SPB) recently approved the creation of a Medical Assistant classification in state civil service. Our Contract gives us the opportunity to meet with the state on the salary and impacts of the new classification. We will stay involved in the introduction of this new position to ensure a smooth transition. To do this, we will meet with the state prior to the employment of new Medical Assistants to ensure the new classification is integrated into the Medical Classification Model.
Stop Mandatory Overtime
Mila Karasik
I was exposed to the severe negative impact of mandatory overtime in 2009. My husband was terminally ill with liver cancer when I was constantly stressed with the mandates that I was subjected to regularly.
On many occasions I had to leave my husband alone at home because I was threatened with adverse action if I refused a mandate and my FMLA was not honored.
Stop Mandatory Overtime
Mary Naidoo
To this day I get very emotional about a friend of mine and colleague who had to resign from State Service under pressure from the burden of mandatory overtime.
He was forced with choosing between the overwhelming pressure of mandatory overtime being used as a regular staffing tool and the ability to take care of his family who had a catastrophic event change their lives. It put him in the unexpected position of being a caregiver to his three young grandchildren, one of which was six months old.
Stop Mandatory Overtime
Vanessa Seastrong
I’ve witnessed over and over again how the dangerous staffing practice of mandatory overtime has devastated the family lives of nurses.
My co-worker at Patton State Hospital decided to work the night shift because she is a single mother of two young boys. Her youngest son was 5 years old, starting kindergarten, and needed someone to take him to school in the morning when management informed her that she’d need to work mandatory overtime. She was devastated and wondered how she’d get her son to school as she had no family around to help.
Little Hoover Commission Adopts Report on Mandatory Overtime
Local 1000 Nurses Testified Urging the Commission to take Action
On March 30th the Little Hoover Commission unanimously voted to adopt a report on the use of mandatory overtime at state facilities. Local 1000 nurse leaders testified as to the dangerous staffing practice and urged the Commissioners to adopt the report.
“Eliminating mandatory overtime is vital to improving working conditions for nurses across the state,” said Mary Naidoo, Registered Nurse at California Medical Facility. “The Commission’s report sheds light on the abuse of mandatory overtime.”
Bargaining Leaders Meet with CCHCS Executives to Voice Member Concerns
Bargaining leaders – Margarita Maldonado, Vice President for Bargaining, Rionna Jones, Chair of Unit 20 and Kim Cowart, Chair of Unit 17 – met with California Correctional Health Care Services’ (CCHCS) executive management to discuss the dissatisfaction of members across the state regarding their mishandling of post and bid, an ill-advised staffing model, their proposal to create a new Medical Assistant classification, the use of mandatory overtime and other chronic issues.
Collective power delivers results
Union clout fixes delays in SSSB claims
Local 1000 leveraged our collective power to get relief for members at the State Special Schools who were struggling with delays in State Special Schools Benefit (SSSB) funds. SSSB funds are a type of unemployment benefit for employees of the State Special Schools run by the California Department of Education (CDE).
Local 1000 members and staff met several times over the past eight months with department representatives. The union forced management to identify what was causing delays and to find ways to minimize those delays.
Members will make the difference
President Walker announces 2016 contract campaign focus: take action
Local 1000 has launched its 2016 contract campaign with these words from President Yvonne R. Walker: “Our contract will be about the strength and the power of our members to win something amazing.”
Speaking to members statewide on a conference call for Local 1000 stewards and hundreds more who heard the call at listening parties, Walker looked forward to the upcoming negotiations feeling confident about the preparation that’s gone before.
Action Update: CCHCS Refuses to Fix Post and Bid; We Must Demand They Fix It!
Last week, over 250 LVNs, RNs and Stewards from CCHCS made calls to Statewide CNE, Cheryl Schutt, to demand that she and CCHCS act to fix their mismanagement of the Post and Bid Process. Thanks to all of you, our actions made an impact: within minutes of our calls, Labor Relations called Local 1000 to find out what was going on.
We’ve got their attention. Now we need to turn up the heat to force them to act.
CCHCS Broke Post and Bid; We Must Demand They Fix It!
Post & Bid: Hold CCHCS accountable to the contract we fought for
Earlier this year, Local 1000 conducted a survey of LVNs and RNs asking them whether or not they were interested in allowing nursing management to conduct an early bid. The response was clear: no. Our members want us to aggressively enforce our contract, and that’s what we will do. After pressure from the union on several fronts, the Receiver and management from California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) agreed to wait until the October post and bid cycle.
Members organize for workplace safety
Emergency call light system repaired after a march on city hall
Thanks to the efforts of Local 1000 members advocating for patient safety at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP), the long-broken emergency call light system there has been repaired.
First Bargaining Unit 17 JLMC report on Upward Mobility sent to CalHR Director
Bargaining Unit 17’s first Nursing and Upward Mobility Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) report was sent to the Director of the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR).
A committee of five representatives from SEIU Local 1000 and five from the State of California met quarterly for the past year to develop the first of two reports to be published prior to contract negotiations. The initial report focuses on two topics: (1) career mobility and (2) clinical supervision.
Click here to view the Nursing and Upward Mobility Joint Labor Management Committee Report.
Arbitration win says CDCR retaliated against Local 1000 steward
Victory includes back pay for nearly two years of missed overtime
Stewards are at the core of Local 1000’s power, the crucial connection between the members in the workplace and the union. So when one of our representatives is treated unfairly for doing the work of the union, they’ve picked a fight we’ll take to the mat.
CCHCS making the switch to electronic record keeping
Local 1000 members will take part in pilot program
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.
Local 1000 Celebrates Nurses
It’s been said that, despite the paperwork and the long hours, nurses dispense comfort, caring and compassion … all without a prescription.
Every year we celebrate the extraordinary work of nurses during National Nurses Week. Nurses are the heart of our nation’s health care system; they are the human beings who put warmth and kindness into the sometimes impersonal world of modern medicine.
Thank you to our nurses for the care they provide to their patients and for the care they demonstrate in their ongoing efforts to advocate for their fellow workers.
Central Coast members honored for outstanding organizing
Members of Local 1000 working in health care on the Central Coast were honored on April 17 with the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council’s Health Care Rising Award. The honor recognized the tremendous work Local 1000 has done organizing for better working conditions and advocating for patient safety at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP), the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) and the Department of State Hospitals-Salinas Valley (DSH). The award was shared with the California Nurses Association, which has been active in other health care facilities in the region.
Local 1000 members will testify in support of bill banning mandatory OT
As part of Local 1000’s campaign to ban mandatory overtime for nurses and certified nursing assistants in units 20 and 17, members will testify before an Assembly committee on Wednesday in support of AB 840.
Last week Local 1000’s LVN Workgroup lobbied legislators in support of the legislation, which would eliminate mandatory overtime for nurses and certified nursing assistants in state prisons and mental hospitals.
Bargaining team preparing for the future
Working to build power for 2016 negotiations
Building power in the community, facing challenges and developing union leaders were key themes of last week’s meeting of the Statewide Bargaining Advisory Council (SBAC) in Southern California.
Nearly 200 elected bargaining representatives from up and down California—including the 60-plus members who negotiate our contract with the state—meet three times each year to develop strategies for bargaining and to understand and respond to issues that affect our lives at work and at home.
The fight to end mandatory overtime continues
Governor vetoes AB 2155; "the fight will continue."
On Sept. 30, Governor Jerry Brown issued a veto message for Assembly Bill 2155, a bill that would have prohibited the unsafe practice of mandatory overtime in state facilities.
Local 1000 remains committed to fighting the use of mandatory overtime to ensure greater safety for workers, patients and the community at large.
CCHCS Layoff Update
Team reaches agreement with the state to reduce impact of Phase 3 Staff Reductions
On September 23, 2014, the Local 1000 negotiating team came to an agreement with CalHR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) regarding the 2014 Phase 3 Staff Reductions. Some of the highlights of the agreement include:
AB 2155 makes its way to Governor Brown for signature
Member action pushed bill passed hurdles in the Senate and Assembly
AB 2155—the Local 1000-sponsored bill that would put an end to the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime for public sector nurses—has passed the Senate and Assembly, and has now moved to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown for his approval.
As the bill awaits the governor’s decision, Local 1000 member leaders are preparing to deliver nearly 3,000 commitment cards signed by Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) from throughout the state.
Health Facility Evaluator Nurse: First Classification selected by the Bargaining Unit 17 Recruitment and Retention Committee
Bargaining Unit 17 will meet with CalHR in mid-September regarding the recruitment and retention issues in the Health Facility Evaluator (HFEN) classification.
Our contract article 5.17.17 affords BU 17 the opportunity to discuss recruitment and retention of six classifications a year. Other classifications slated to be discussed are: Nurse Evaluator II, Nurse Consultant, Health Services Specialist, Registered Nurse (in the California Department of Education), and Nurse Practitioners.
CCHCS layoffs: what you need to know
California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) has mailed more than 600 State Restriction of Appointment (SROA) letters to Local 1000 members in seven of our nine bargaining units in anticipation of just over 200 planned layoffs scheduled to occur on December 1, 2015.
The majority of the layoffs affect bargaining units 17 and 20; the other affected bargaining units are 1, 3, 4, 11, and 15.
Local 1000 Nurses back bill to limit OT
Nurses organize statewide support for AB 2155
Local 1000-sponsored legislation to ban the unsafe practice of mandatory overtime, for nurses and nursing assistants, has passed the state Assembly and is now before the state Senate.
The Assembly vote on AB 2155 came after a determined campaign spearheaded by Local 1000 nurses who work in prisons and mental hospitals. Frustrated by frequent double shifts and callbacks without proper rest, the nurses organized in support of the bill and took their message to the Assembly.
Local 1000 signs first tentative agreement impacting all employees
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.
New safety program for Napa State Hospital
Local 1000 fights to protect our members and sees results
A new Injury and Illness Prevention Program – developed with input from Local 1000 – will roll out over the next year at Napa State Hospital (NSH). Designed to improve the safety and well-being of NSH employees, the new program features education and training, risk assessments, safety inspections, comprehensive reporting and an emergency response and action plan.