CalHR Civil Service Improvement Project Starts Phase 2: Class Consolidation

Over the past year, ACSS spent tremendous effort working with the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) on the Civil Service Improvement (CSI) Project. Phase 1 aimed to identify and abolish unused job classifications and successfully came to completion. Starting now and within the next 12 months, the CSI Project moves into Phase 2 which proposes several classification consolidation changes that may affect many excluded employees.

According to the 2017 Civil Service Improvement report, the goal of the CSI “initiative is to produce a modern human resources system that will allow state departments to find and quickly hire the best candidates through a fair and merit-based process.” The class consolidation will address the state’s current antiquated classifications system. “A modernized and simplified classification system that reduces the number of classifications and uses standard industry language will allow:

• An understanding of the various career paths.
• Job seekers and employees to understand the state’s classification structure.
• The elimination of duplicative exams and hiring processes.
• Promotional opportunities with appropriate probationary periods between salary ranges.”

ACSS has been notified of classification consolidation proposals affecting excluded employees associated with Bargaining Unit 10 (Professional Scientific) and Bargaining Unit 15 (Allied Services). The classes affected in these proposals include:

• Research Scientist Supervisors, Research Scientist Managers
• Energy Program Supervisors, Energy Program Managers
• Custodian Supervisors and Supervising Housekeepers

These classification consolidation proposals will tentatively be submitted to the State Personnel Board at the June 1 Board Meeting. If you belong to a classification affected in one of these specific proposals and if you have questions or concerns that you would like ACSS to address, please contact Nellie Lynn, ACSS Assistant Director of Representation, at nlynn@acss.org. Your thoughts and input regarding the proposals are important to ensure that the concerns of all impacted excluded employees are addressed.

In this second phase, ACSS is committed to ensuring that the best interests of members are protected when the consolidation of classifications occurs. We have been reaching out to affected members to assess concerns and identify problem areas. In addition, we have reviewed the documentation of the classification consolidations affecting excluded employees and have requested a meeting with CalHR to bring the concerns of members to the table in regards to this topic on May 4th, 2017.

ACSS will continue to keep members informed as we receive important news and updates about the results of this meeting and additional consolidated classes that may affect excluded employees.