Unit 20
Medical & Social Services Specialists
Who We are
The purpose of Bargaining Unit 20 is to represent the LVNs, CNAs, Teaching Assistants, Dental Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Laboratory Technologists, Physical Therapists, Counselors, and many other medical and social service classifications working in prisons, veteran’s homes, developmental centers, state hospitals, special schools, and other departments for the State of California so they operate under a fair and legal contract, and are part of a strong member led union.
By educating, organizing and mobilizing members of Bargaining Unit 20 in the workplace, the political arena and within the union itself, we strive to improve the living standard and rights of members, their families and other working people. Through these efforts we will accomplish economic and social justice for ourselves and others.
Unit 20 Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC)
Assignment Despite Objection
GeoPay Task Force Presents and Releases Report
Mandatory Overtime (MOT) Information
Our contract is the agreement between SEIU Local 1000 and the State that outlines our pay, our benefits, and our rights! Our bargaining team is gearing up to negotiate a new contract and what we win depends on how strong and united we are.
Here are the priorities our Bargaining Unit 20 team is bringing to the table:
Strengthen the Post and Bid Process for Medical Assistants (MAs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs)
This includes pursuing continuous bidding and securing clearer contract language — including specific language covering MAs — to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistent opportunities for all members.
Prioritizing Improvements to Vacation and Time-Off Scheduling
We are pushing for clear, enforceable contract language that allows members to use their accrued leave, strengthens and standardizes the request process, and establishes fair and consistent ad hoc approval guidelines so members can actually access the time off they have earned.
Improving the CalATERS process
We must ensure members have a fair and accessible pathway to reimbursement.
We are seeking clearer standards and stronger contract language that expands eligibility and better support members in receiving reimbursement for qualifying expenses.
Unit 20 Bargaining Updates
Update on CalHR Additional Appointment Policy on SHS Overtime Pay Calculations
On March 4, 2026, SEIU Local 1000 met with CalHR and CDCR management to get answers regarding how overtime pay is now being calculated for impacted Self-Help Sponsor (SHS) members. During the meeting, questions were raised about the differences...
MOT Bargaining Update – Jan 22
On January 16, 2026, SEIU Local 1000 met with the State in our ongoing effort to address the important issue of Mandatory Overtime for nurses in state service. The State once again refused to provide our team with a counterproposal. The...
MOT Bargaining Update: Dec. 9, 2025
SEIU Local 1000 met with the state on December 8, 2025, and, like last month, the state was ill-prepared and didn’t have a counterproposal or anything tangible to offer our union. The state also cancelled our next meeting, which was scheduled for...
Mandatory Overtime (MOT) Bargaining Update – Nov. 20th
SEIU Local 1000 was prepared to meet with the state today, November 20, 2025, but before going to the table, CalHR communicated that they are still working on their response. Both SEIU Local 1000 and the state are currently in the process of...
Latest Update on Mandatory Overtime Bargaining
As part of our “Don’t Let CalHR Silence Us” campaign, we want to update you on one of the most urgent examples of CalHR’s interference happening right now: Mandatory Overtime (MOT). For weeks, we’ve been calling out how CalHR is restricting union...
CRC Voluntary Transfer Process (VTP) Agreement Reached
A Local 1000 Bargaining Team — made up of a number of directly impacted employees and the Bargaining Unit Chairs for those Units — have reached an agreement with the State outlining the process, eligibility and support that our represented...
Upcoming Virtual Info Sessions on the Closure of California Rehabilitation Center (CRC)
Our Union will be hosting Zoom informational sessions to provide information about the current closure phase and what impacted employees can expect this Fall. The meetings will be held on the following dates and times: Thursday, October 9th from...
CDE Meet and Confer Update: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
On May 29th, 2025, SEIU Local 1000 conducted a Meet and Confer with the California Department of Education regarding the implementation of the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process as of 6.13.2025 at the Schools for the Deaf in both Riverside...
CDE proposed Special Schools Academic Calendar 2025-2026
Members of Bargaining Unit 3 as well as Bargaining Unit 20 met with the California Department of Education on March 18th, 2025, regarding the proposed Academic Calendar for 2025-2026. We went into the meeting with...
![Update on Appendix S – 12.1 Business and Travel Expenses [New]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NjUzOjY3Nw==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDAwIDI1MCIgd2lkdGg9IjQwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNTAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
Update on Appendix S – 12.1 Business and Travel Expenses [New]
SEIU Local 1000 met with CalHR on July 22, 2024, and again on September 17, 2024, regarding implementing “New” Appendix S - 12.1 Business and Travel Expenses. As negotiated last year, the Business and Travel Expenses section (12.1) will be updated...
Unit 20 Bargaining News for Tuesday, May 3
Unit 20’s bargaining team came to the table today with a range of proposals to improve a number of themes identified by their members as priorities to ensure a better workplace and the ability to perform their work at peak efficiency. Those...
Unit 20 Bargaining News for Thursday, April 28
Our Unit 20 bargaining team returned to the table today with a focus on improving the quality of care our Medical and Social Services Specialists provide as well as the quality of their personal lives. We impressed on the state that working in...
Unit 20 Bargaining News for Friday, April 15
Local 1000’s Unit 20 bargaining team met with state negotiators for the first time today, representing the interests of our members who work as Medical and Social Services Specialists. The team shared their diverse backgrounds and deep job...
Unit 20 Bargaining Update for Monday, July 15, 2019
Our Unit 20 bargaining team—representing Medical and Social Service Specialists—returned to negotiations with the state today to address a number of deeply-felt issues our members shared during bargaining Town Halls and on thousands of surveys. Our...
Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, July 18, 2023
Our Unit 20 bargaining team reports some progress at the table, recording three different tentative agreements that preserve rights we’ve fought for and won during previous contract campaigns. At the same time, we continue to negotiate on a number...
Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, July 10, 2023
There’s good news today in the form of two significant wins at the Unit 20 bargaining table. We reached tentative agreement with the state on two proposals that improve working conditions and expanded job and income opportunities for our...
Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Thursday, July 6, 2023
The Unit 20 bargaining team returned to the table on July 6 to negotiate with the State’s team. Once again, the State’s refusal to take their worker’s concerns seriously took center stage. In spite of this, SEIU Local 1000 members will continue to...
Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 26, 2023
This weekend, and again today, the Unit 20 bargaining team worked with the State to advance the Medical and Social Services workers we represent. While we made progress, the State continued to show frustrating bargaining behavior that didn’t align...