CalHR Increases Commute Reimbursement for ALL Excluded Employees; ACSS Advocacy on Salaries Continues

CalHR has announced the reimbursement amount for transit passes and vanpools will increase by $35 per month for all supervisors, managers, and confidential employees. Effective February 1, 2020, excluded employees will be eligible for 75% reimbursement for public transit passes, up to $100 per month. Vanpool riders will be reimbursed 75% of the monthly fee, up to $100 per month, and vanpool drivers will receive $135 per month.

When SEIU Local 1000 representing rank-and-file bargaining units negotiated an increase in commute reimbursement amounts, ACSS immediately proposed that CalHR extend the increases to all excluded employees. After several meetings with CalHR where this topic was discussed, we are pleased that CalHR has adopted ACSS’ proposal and extended the increased commute reimbursement amounts to all excluded employees, regardless of bargaining unit affiliation.

What’s Next for the Remainder of the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year?
CalHR is expected to implement adjustments to bilingual pay, recruitment & retention for the Correctional Case Records series, and an increase in the call center differential. ACSS has met with CalHR and requested these same increases for excluded employees. CalHR will soon implement salary adjustments for Bargaining Unit 18. ACSS has requested CalHR provide at least the same salary increases for supervisors, managers and confidential employees, in addition to correcting standing salary inequities and compaction issues.

What About July 1, 2020 Increases?
Sixteen of the state’s 21 bargaining units are scheduled for salary increases July 1, 2020. The other five will be in negotiations this spring to adjust salaries. In addition to continued advocacy with CalHR for salary increases and corrections to salary inequities, ACSS is working to ensure the state budget contains funding for salary and benefit increases for excluded employees. While the state budget remains subject to the May Revise and legislative approval, at this point we are optimistic that the budget will adequately fund general salary increases and many special salary adjustments for excluded employees.