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

Unit 20 Bargaining Updates

MOT Bargaining Update: Dec. 9, 2025

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...

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Latest Update on Mandatory Overtime Bargaining

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...

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Unit 20 Bargaining News for Tuesday, May 3

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...

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Unit 20 Bargaining News for Thursday, April 28

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...

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Unit 20 Bargaining News for Friday, April 15

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...

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Unit 20 Bargaining Update for Monday, July 15, 2019

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...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, July 18, 2023

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...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, July 10, 2023

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...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Thursday, July 6, 2023

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...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 26, 2023

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...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 19, 2023

Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 19, 2023

We’re reporting today on two Unit 20 bargaining sessions—held on June 16 and 19. While there was evidence of some movement at the Unit 20 table in these sessions, there remains a serious frustration with the State’s approach to bargaining with just...

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Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 12, 2023

Bargaining Unit 20 Recap: Monday, June 12, 2023

Negotiations continued today with the State after SEIU Local 1000’s march in Sacramento on June 8th. The Unit 20 team went to the table on June 1st to negotiate with the State on the ongoing issues that our members have vocally demanded as we...

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