Find contact information for your local Labor Relations Representative
Helpful documents to learn more about your rights
Step-by-step guide to the Grievance Process
A guide to help you through the Probationary Period
Learn more about salary issues
A list of Senators, Assemblymembers, and Government Officials that ACSS Endorses
Support Candidates that protect the best interest of Excluded Employees
Periodic updates on Legislative Bills that ACSS monitors
ACSS meetings held at YOUR Department
Annual Event held in the State Capitol
Upcoming Board Meeting Information and forms
The Triennial event for ACSS Elections and Policy Changes
For the first time in ACSS history, gubernatorial candidates were interviewed in person by our ACSS Executive Committee at ACSS Headquarters. The Executive Committee asked each candidate key questions and listened to each one’s responses on how they would benefit ACSS members. After the meetings, ACSS chose to dually endorse both Gavin Newsom and John Chiang in their races for Governor of California. Both Newsom and Chiang promise to protect the defined benefit pensions of state employees, address salary compaction, and seek input of state supervisors and managers on how to solve these complex problems.
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Protecting your pension and retirement benefits is a core principle for ACSS. Three cases pending before the State Supreme Court raise questions regarding the validity of the long standing “California Rule.” Since 1955, the courts have held under the California Rule that once pension benefits are granted to a public employee, they are vested and cannot be modified for the duration of an employee’s career.
>> Read more...
We’re excited to announce that elections for ACSS Chapter Officer and Delegates (2018-2021 term) will be an online voting process. Online voting is OPEN NOW and runs through May 21, 2018, 11:59 PM (PST). For your ballot to count, you must complete your online ballot during that time period. Click here to view the list of Candidates for YOUR Chapter!
ACSS is using an independent company, Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS), to host the election online. This ensures the complete confidentiality of the voting process and the accurate tallying of votes.
SBS mailed a letter to ACSS Members' home addresses on April 9th, 2018 that included online voting information with a direct link and unique login credentials. SBS also emailed ACSS Members the voting information on April 20th, 2018. Members must complete ballots online through the direct link with their unique login credentials.
If you are an ACSS Member and have not received your email invitation or have questions, please contact ACSS at (800) 624-2137 or acss@ACSS.org.
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On March 21, 2018, ACSS members marched into the Capitol and met with legislators to discuss important issues affecting managers, supervisors and confidential state employees. Lobby Day was a resounding success with 54 members in attendance. Thanks to the dedicated members who attended, our presence at the Capitol was visible and our voices were clearly heard! For 18 consecutive years, ACSS members have participated in Lobby Day to deliver the ACSS message in person to Assemblymembers and Senators.
CalHR and the Department of Finance have authorized the Excluded Employee Leave Buy-Back Program for 2017-2018. Employees designated Exempt, Supervisory, Managerial or Confidential may elect to be paid at their regular salary rate in exchange for up to 80 hours of unused leave (vacation or annual leave, personal leave, personal holiday or holiday credit). Payment is out of existing appropriations, so each department’s participation is subject to the availability of departmental funds.
No later than May 1, 2018, your department should notify you whether the department has funds to participate and how much leave, up to 80 hours, that you will be able to cash out. The notification will include a deadline to submit your request to cash out leave. Departments may issue payments as early as May, but no later than June 30, 2018.
The current authorization of up to 80 hours for excluded employees follows ACSS’ lobbying and legislative efforts in 2016 to increase the number of leave buy-back hours for excluded employees.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture recently announced a plan to drug test employees in the new CalCannabis Licensing Unit. ACSS members were concerned with privacy issues and the testing procedures that would be utilized. While the State maintains a drug free workplace, the random or “reasonable suspicion” drug testing of employees has been limited to those in medical, correctional or peace officer settings or employees operating heavy equipment or machinery. The drug testing rules balance constitutional privacy issues with the State’s interest in protecting employees and the public.
Following a Meet and Confer with CDFA over the proposed new testing, ACSS sent a letter to the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) and CDFA requesting that they reconsider the drug testing program at CDFA. Upon receipt of ACSS’ letter, CDFA withdrew the plan to drug test the CalCannabis employees and does not plan to pursue drug testing of employees in other CDFA divisions.
Effective May 1, 2018, CalHR has expanded bicycle commuter benefits to all eligible state employees through its new Bicycle Commuter Program Policy. The program encourages state employees to use bicycles as their primary means of commuting to and from work with a taxable benefit of $20 per month.
Any state employee who bicycles to work at least 50% of a calendar month is eligible to participate. There is no need for enrollment. Participating employees will need to submit a Bicycle Commuter Benefit Claim through their department’s established process. Documentation of the bicycle commutes and supervisory review/approval is required for claim submission.
In addition to promoting the health and well being of state employees, the program also encourages sustainable commuting practices. The expansion of this benefit program bolsters Caltrans’ “Toward an Active California, State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan,” which aims to triple the number of bicycle commuters by 2020.
>> Click here find out more about the Bicycle Commuter Program from CalHR.
If your bicycle commuter claim is denied, contact your local ACSS Labor Relations Representative.
UPDATE 6/29/2018
CalHR has updated the Human Resources Manual Section 1425. This update clarifies this benefit to include employees who combine using transit passes with shared bicycle services for a portion of their commute.
At Lobby Day, the goal is to unite ACSS members with legislators to educate them and get their support on the issues that affect the careers of excluded employees. This is what ACSS is all about! When ACSS members come together with their fellow excluded employees, their voices are heard loud and clear at the Capitol. ACSS fights to protect the rights and compensation for all state supervisors, managers and confidential employees. Together, we are making a difference!
This year, we are hand-selecting a talented and dedicated group of long-time activists to represent ACSS at the Capitol for Lobby Day. Their fine-tuned message will deliver a powerful punch to Legislators and our message will be heard clearly.
As per CalHR, all state managers and CEA's must complete initial training requirements within 12 months of appointment and all employees in leadership positions must complete 20 hours of ongoing leadership training every two years. in 2016 CalHR made amendments to Government Code 19995.4 which prescribes new leadership development training requirements for state leaders. For employees in leadership classifications appointed before July 1, 2016, the new biennial leadership training requirements muse be completed by July 1, 2018.
The California Leadership Academy offers a Manager Development Program located in Sacramento and in Gardena. This course satisfies the 40 hour training requirement for new managers and is a great opportunity for leaders to satisfy their biennial training requirement. By the end of this class, you will be able to apply critical skills to lead teams, leverage resources, and use best practices to effectively and efficiently operate your program.
CalHR Announcement -
Effective March 7, 2018, CalHR delegates authority to departments to make determinations regarding Excess Lodging Rate Requests up to $250 per night. Previously, departments only had delegation to make determinations regarding Excess Lodging Rate Requests up to $150 per night.
Excess Lodging Rate Requests are required if the requested lodging rate is more than the state rate. CalHR’s Short-Term Lodging Reimbursement Rates page lists the current state rates for all excluded and all represented employees. All Excess Lodging Rate Requests for amounts above the delegated amount of $250 per night will continue to require CalHR approval in advance. Departments should continue to follow their current processes for completing and submitting Excess Lodging Rate Requests to CalHR.
To see this and other recent human resources announcements, please visit the CalHR Announcements web page.
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