The Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS) met with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) on Friday, January 13, 2012, to discuss the Department’s transition plan to become the Department of State Hospitals (DSH).
DMH stated that the Department is initiating layoffs; specifically DMH will be submitting a proposed layoff plan to DPA with in the next 30 days. The layoff plan includes the elimination of those excluded employee positions already identified in the cost savings measures provided to ACSS. DMH stated that there are vacancies currently at Coalinga State Hospital and Salinas Valley Psychiatric Program, which may be filled by voluntary transfer to help mitigate layoffs.
ACSS proposed providing relocation assistance to employees who voluntarily transfer to a vacant position. DMH stated that it is unlikely that there will be funds available to provide relocation assistance, but that this could be discussed further through the meet and confer process with DPA over layoffs.
DMH stated that there are currently no staff reductions planned for Coalinga and Napa State Hospitals.
At this time, it is anticipated that the layoff process will take about four to eight months to complete, which means the layoffs will be effective some time in July or August 2012. ACSS will be providing updates on layoffs as information becomes available so make sure to visit acss.org reguarly for developments.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding the implementation of the transition plan, please contact Nellie Lynn, ACSS Senior Labor Relations Representative at nlynn@calcsea.org.
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