The Unit 21 bargaining team – representing Educational Consultants and Librarians — closed out bargaining unit negotiations after meeting Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

The bargaining team addressed the priorities of our members as expressed in surveys and town hall meetings. We maintained our FLSA-exempt status. We gained new language to address the negative work cultures in our offices and agencies. We gained language that will help us address our professional development needs. We have a new pilot program for members with five years of service to take a month or more of educational leave.

On Friday, our team closed out by signing a tentative agreement for a classification review for Unit 21 members at the California Department of Education. This review will provide the groundwork for a broader look at equity and comparable pay issues for Unit 21.

We were also able to keep all of our existing rights and benefits. Now, our bargaining team turns its focus to the Master Table, which is negotiating issues that affect all 95,000 Local 1000 members, such as retirement security, health care benefits and salary increases.

We are also encouraging all of our members to RSVP for the June 5 “I’m All In!” rally at the Capitol – an action that will tell everyone that we are all in for Local 1000, all in for a fair contract and all in for quality public services for Californians.

Master Table bargaining resumes on Sunday.

In Solidarity,

Miguel Cordova
Unit 21 Bargaining Chair