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The Governor’s Proposed 2017-2018 Budget included transferring the psychiatric inpatient care program from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS).
DSH provided the Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS) notice of their intent “to release and transfer all DSH staff at DSH-Salinas Valley, DSH-Stockton and DSH- Vacaville, as well as a small number of DSH-Sacramento staff who support operations at the psychiatric programs to CDCR/CCHCS.” The transfer of employees is contingent on the proposal being approved by the Governor and the State Legislature through the budget process.
According to DSH, initially, “organizational structure and classifications will remain the same… However, CDCR and CCHCS are analyzing the classifications and structure. Any proposed action and/or required change will be reviewed and discussed. If there is a determination that a classification/employee is being impacted”, ACSS will be noticed of the proposed change. DSH provided a FAQ, which will be updated periodically throughout this process.
ACSS has requested a meet and confer with DSH and CalHR. Under the Bill of Rights for State Excluded Employees Government Code Section 3533 a “Meet and Confer” means that the state employer shall consider as fully as it deems reasonable, such presentations as are made by ACSS - the verified supervisory employee organization - on behalf of its supervisory members prior to arriving at a determination of policy or course of action.
If you are a DSH excluded employee and have any questions or concerns that you would like ACSS to address, please contact Nellie Lynn, ACSS Assistant Director of Representation, via email at nlynn@ACSS.org. Your thoughts and input regarding the proposed transfer of psychiatric programs are important to ensure that the concerns of all impacted excluded employees are addressed.
The ACSS Q1 Newsletter focuses on how ACSS helps members receive their rightful compensation when working Out-Of-Class. Also, ACSS President Frank Ruffino shares his view on the 2016 year in review.
Download the ACSS Q1 2017 Newsletter now! Or, catch up on previous ACSS Quarterly newsletters.
On February 7, 2017, CalPers announced they anticipate a 5.8 percent annual investment return. In our article from December 2016, ACSS provided information about CalPers lowering the discount rate from 7.5 percent to 7.0 percent. CalPERS predicts this lower estimate of 5.8 percent could reduce the portfolio’s more volatile stock and private equity sectors and increase allocations of more stable investments. CalPERS expects higher investment returns in the decades to follow.
Don Boyd, fiscal studies director at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, says “It requires a rosy view of the future to assume a long-run return on 7 percent while expecting to earn only a 5.8 percent in the first 10 years. But the alternative would require raising government contributions by even more than they have increased already, undoubtedly an unpopular and difficult move.”
>> Read the full article from Reuters here.
At Lobby Day the goal is for you to unite with other ACSS members and educate your legislators about the issues that affect your careers. We need to turnout in greater numbers than ever before to show lawmakers, the media, and the general public that we want our careers to stay productive and protected!
This event is what ACSS is all about. Stand up with fellow excluded employees and let your voices be heard! Together, we can make a difference.
ACSS Members, REGISTER NOW for Lobby Day!
Click here to learn more about Lobby Day, read Frequently Asked Questions, and see photos from last year's event.
Several local ACSS Chapter meetings are coming up in February and March. Join your fellow excluded employees and come to an ACSS Chapter meeting in your area. Members and potential members are welcome to attend. Click on the Chapter link below to RSVP now! Dinner is FREE for members and potential members*.
>> February 8th - Chapter 509 - Visalia
>> February 9th - Chapter 508 - Stockton
>> February 16th - Chapter 511 - Monterey Park
>> February 16th - Chapter 514 - Ontario
>> February 21st - Chapter 507 - Gonzalez
>> February 22nd - Chapter 502 & 503 - Sacramento
>> March 2nd - Chapter 505 - San Francisco
>> March 3rd - Chapter 513 - Orange County
>> March 7th - Chapter 504 - Sonoma/Napa Area
>> March 7th - Chapter 509 - Fresno
Members attending their first meeting receive a free gift!
*Spouses may attend, but must pay for their meal separately. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the free dinner and must be purchased separately.
On January 19th, ACSS met with CalHR to discuss the possibility of salary increases for excluded employees in reaction to the recent rank and file agreements that were reached through bargaining in December of 2016. ACSS also intended this meeting to introduce ourselves to CalHR’s new Labor Relations Officer, Kate Van Sickle (who replaced Steven Booth). ACSS helped bring VanSickle up to speed with the history of ACSS’ efforts on advocating for resolving salary compaction and helped familiarize her with the full scope of issues that ACSS advocates for. The meeting was productive and ACSS brought valuable items to the table, yet many specific items were left unanswered by CalHR. CalHR was not specific about which classifications will get additional pay and when it may happen.
ACSS thinks that excluded employees got the better deal regarding the sweeping 3% GSI salary increase for excluded employees in October 2016 versus the $2500 one-time bonus that Rank and file recently received. The 3% GSI increase for excluded employees is a “forever benefit” and it is PERSABLE, so it will count towards your retirement benefits. The $2,500 bonus that Rank and File just received does not.
In our recent January 19th meeting with CalHR, they confirmed that they will NOT be providing excluded employees with a one-time bonus, like that of SEIU Local 1000. During the meeting, ACSS heavily advocated on behalf of members for special salary adjustments to be passed on to excluded employees. CalHR’s response continues to be that final decisions have not yet been made and they will follow the administration’s directive to establish and maintain a 5% pay differential instead of the 10% that ACSS advocates as fair and equitable.
There is good news in the Governor’s proposed 2017 – 2018 budget. The budget adds $1.2 billion for increased employee compensation. It is anticipated that this will provide for General Salary Increases for excluded employees in July 2017, as per PML 2016-023. This is just the beginning of the budget process. Unlike bargaining, where rank and file agrees upon multi-year salary increases, excluded employees are excluded from bargaining, which means that they rely upon the budget each year to determine salary adjustments. The final approved budget bill is still a long way off and a lot can happen between now and the end of the fiscal year. ACSS will continue to monitor the budget process and advocate funding to provide excluded employees fair and equitable pay packages.
ACSS Lobby Day is on March 15th. We strongly encourage you to join us at Lobby Day and meet with legislators and educate them about the issues affecting excluded employees, like pay compaction. As news develops, ACSS will provide any updates in regards to pay increases and further discussion with CalHR.
The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is hosting a two-day CalPERS Benefits Education Event (CBEE) in Sacramento to inform members about programs and benefits available to them. This event will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center on Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..
Whether new to CalPERS, in mid-career, or close to retirement, CBEEs offer all CalPERS members a wealth of information about their retirement and health benefits, supplemental savings plans, long-term care coverage, and more. Representatives from CalPERS Regional Offices will be on hand to answer questions. The event features breakout sessions specific to both early through mid-career members, and those nearing retirement. Topics to be covered include CalPERS retirement benefits, CalPERS health benefits, and deferred compensation.
For more information and to register, visit CalPERS Benefits Education Events.
On January 10, 2017, Governor Brown released his proposed 2017-2018 State Budget. Once again Brown emphasized “budget prudence” by reiterating “deficits are always much larger in magnitude than surpluses.” Brown continues to discourage spending money on programs that improve the lives of Californians and restoring programs that were once cut.
In the big picture, the Governor’s budget proposes $122.5 billion in General Fund expenditures, a slight reduction from the 2016-2017 budget. It also assumes an increase of $5.2 billion in General Fund revenues compared to last year. Over the course of the next three fiscal years, the 2017-18 budget assumes a $1.6 billion deficit in the next budget year and $1 to $2 billion deficits in future years, if left unaddressed. In addition, the Administration socked away another $1 billion into the Proposition 2 rainy day fund to pad the nearly $8 billion balance and prepare for future deficits.
>> Click here to read the full article that includes in-depth content on...
The votes are in and according to SEIU Local 1000, approximately 90 percent of the the people voted in favor of the new contract. The 42-month contract promises members a $2,500 bonus and a cumulative raise of 11.5%. The next step is ratification of the Legislature before the 96,000 state workers represented by SEIU Local 1000 receive their bonus checks.
>> Click here to read the full article from the Sac Bee.
CalHR released Pay Letter 16-24 on December 22, 2016, which addressed changes in the Fair Labor Standards Act salary threshold. Some excluded employees received an increased pay rate.
>> Click here to read the details of Pay Letter 16-24 to see if your classification was affected by this change.
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