NEWS

Prefunding Retirement Benefit Contributions – Implementation for S06, M06 and other Excluded Employees

On August 26, 2016, ACSS met with CalHR to discuss Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Prefunding for supervisors and managers tied to Bargaining Unit 6 (Peace Officers).

Below are the important issues that were discussed at the meeting:

• Excluded Employee General Salary Increases
• Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) Prefunding Implementation
• Processing Prefunding Deductions
• Delaying Prefunding
• Retirement Health Benefits and Vesting for New Employees

  >> Click here to read the full text of the article.

“California Rule” Continues to Protect Pensions Despite Marin County Court Ruling

ACSS strives to provide members with news that matters to excluded state employees. We are on your side and fight to protect your pension and retirement benefits. The “California Rule”, created in 1955, prohibits any changes in pension benefits to state workers once they are granted. However, on August 17, 2016, a state appellate court in San Francisco concluded that the California Rule can be modified. In the case of Marin Association of Public Employees vs Marin County Employees Retirement Association, the issue of “pension spiking” (the practice of using tactical means to inflate income and benefits) opened the door to debate the validity of the long-standing California Rule.

In this case, three appellate justices determined that state employee pensions are “not an immutable entitlement.” And added that “the Legislature may, prior to the employee’s retirement, alter the formula, thereby reducing the anticipated pension…so long as the…modifications do not deprive the employee of reasonable pension.”

Pension reformers may see this ruling as a reason to continue to propose new pension reform measures.

ACSS fights to protect your pension. In fighting this battle, we joined the Californians for Retirement Security Coalition (CRS) which aims to protect pensions and retirement benefits of public employees. Steven Maviglio, spokesperson for CRS, reassures ACSS that the California Rule is not going anywhere anytime soon. Maviglio reiterates that “The California Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the “California Rule”, protecting pensions and maintaining that they are a vested right”. He goes on to mention that the case of Marin County is based on an unreasonable, narrow set of facts and may be appealed to the Supreme Court. Ultimately, Maviglio says “There is no reasonable conclusion that this decision opens the door to overturning the California Rule. Any significant changes would require legislative action, which will not occur this year.”

ACSS will continue to closely monitor this issue and provide you with updates.

ACSS Quarterly Meeting with CCHCS

ACSS met with the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) in Sacramento on August 12, 2016, to discuss a variety of issues affecting ACSS members:

• Adding Safety Retirement Pay for certain classifications
• Office Support Supervisor I upgrades
• Seniority Watch Preference Policy for Supervising Registered Nurses II
• Food Administrator salary compaction issues

We would like to thank the CCHCS members that provided input to ACSS prior to the meeting. Their input and feedback was important and valuable in order for ACSS to address their specific concerns. In these types of meetings, ACSS represents the voice of members and protects careers on behalf of its members.

Here is a summary of the results of this meeting…

Follow Up on CDCR Meet And Confer Regarding Directed Reports

ACSS met with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in Sacramento on August 11, 2016, to discuss impact on members regarding the implementation of the Office of Internal Affairs (OIA) order of Directed Reports process. Per CDCR “a Directed Report is a written response to a written or verbal order issued by the OIA in which staff are directed to document an incident or action that is the subject of an OIA inquiry or administrative investigation.”

We would like to thank the CDCR members that provided input to ACSS prior to the meeting. Their input and feedback was important and valuable in order for ACSS to address their specific concerns. In these types of Meet and Confer meetings, ACSS represents the voice of members and protects careers on behalf of its members.

Here is a summary of the results of this meeting…

CSEA Foundation Awards Scholarship to an ACSS Recipient

The CSEA (California State Employees Association) Foundation awarded five $1,500 scholarships to outstanding students that are either dependents, spouses or grandchildren of CSEA Affiliates (ACSS, CSR, CSUEU, SEIU Local 1000 and UAW).  One of the $1,500 scholarship recipients was sponsored by an ACSS member from Chapter 503 in the Sacramento area.  ACSS would like to congratulate Evan Lovell who attends Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, sponsored by ACSS Chapter 503 member Howell Lovell III. The CSEA Foundation Board and ACSS extends its sincere congratulations and continuing academic success to all recipients and those who submitted applications.

Click here to read the press release from the CSEA Foundation.

CalPERS Events: Benefits Education in Newport Beach, Retirement Webinar

As you get closer to retirement it is important to examine your retirement benefits to ensure you’re on the right path. On August 26-27, 2016, CalPERS is hosting a Benefits Education Event at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa for informative breakout sessions, exhibits, and assistance with my|CalPERS. Whether you are new to the workforce, mid-career or nearing retirement, this event can help you plan ahead by better understanding your CalPERS benefits.

In addition, CalPERS will host a 90 minute Planning Your Retirement webinar on Wednesday, August 31, at 11:00 a.m. Planning and education are crucial components to making sound decisions when approaching retirement. By attending this webinar, you will learn about your CalPERS benefits and the strategic choices you can make to maximize your retirement pension.

State Offers Rank-and-File SEIU Employees a 12 Percent Raise Over 4 Years

As of July 19, 2016, the Administration was in the midst of contract negotiations with 16 out of the 21 bargaining units throughout California after most state employee contracts expired on or around July 1.

SEIU Local 1000 is currently in the process of negotiating contracts with the state over 6 different bargaining units. In a document dated July 8, the state offered SEIU rank-and-file employees a 12 percent general salary increase spread out over 4 years. However, the offer would also require a 3.5 percent increase in contributions towards prefunding retirement health benefits over that time period.

Some other details of the state’s offer to SEIU-represented employees are:

• The state would not be able to require furloughs in the first year, but count in subsequent years.
• An 80-hour annual cash-out would be added to vacation and annual leave benefits.
• In addition to the general salary increase, two dozen classifications would get additional raises, the largest going to Unit 1 Actuary Series (10 %) and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Unit 20 (11.5%).

On July 30, 2016, SEIU Local 1000 released a newsletter stating that the talks had come to a crossroads and they “feel that the state’s offer does not meet the priorities [the members] shared [with the state] through town halls and bargaining surveys.” SEIU Local officials did not respond for comment.

According to Ted Toppin, Lobbyist and ACSS Legislative Correspondent, “The statutory provisions of the budget extend the 2016 pay raises – and the prefunding retiree health schedules – extend to the state supervisors and managers who are linked with the rank and file employees of each bargaining unit”.

>> Click here to read more in the article from the SacBee.

Travel Reimbursement Rate Increases for Excluded Employees

Effective July 1, 2016, the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) has increased official state travel lodging and private aircraft reimbursement rates for all Excluded employees. Click here to read the details of PML 2016-020.

ACSS Holds Board Meeting in Sacramento, Swears in New Chapter Officers

ACSS President Frank Ruffino swears in Elena Yuasa (Chapter 513 President, on left) and Dionne Faulk (Chapter 511 Secretary-Treasurer, middle) to their new positions as ACSS Chapter Officers.

On July 23, 2016, ACSS held a Board Meeting in Sacramento. The Board moved motions to appoint a select number of Chapter Officers in some ACSS Chapters where there were vacancies. The new officers present at the meeting were sworn into office.

Chapter 504
    - Vice President – Kimisha Hall

Chapter 505
   - Secretary-Treasurer – Joseph Abhulimen

Chapter 511
   - Chapter President – Angel Ramsey
   - Vice President – Joseph Aiu
   - Secretary Treasurer – Dionne Faulk*

Chapter 513
   - Chapter President – Elena Yuasa*
   - Vice President – Alberto Covarrubias

*Sworn in at the Board Meeting.

In other business conducted at the meeting, the Political Action Committee (PAC) reviewed the results of the 2016 California Primary Election, held in June, and also recommended the Board approve additional candidates for endorsement. The Board approved the motion and ACSS now additionally endorses the following Legislative candidates:

• AD 04 – Cecelia Aguiar-Curry (D)
• AD 39 – Raul Bocanegra (D)
• AD 48 – Blanca Rubio (D)
• AD 66 – Al Muratsuchi (D)
• SD 03 – Bill Dodd (D)
• SD 07 – Steve Glazer (D)
• SD 09 – Nancy Skinner (D)
• SD 27 – Henry Stern (D)

The PAC Committee also presented information on a few propositions that will be appearing on the 2016 November ballot. Of these, ACSS discussed at length Prop 55 (The School Funding and Budget Stability Act of 2016). Prop 55 is a Prop 30 renewal that proposes to extend the tax increases for wealthy taxpayers and allocates those funds to public schools where school boards decide how the revenues are to be spent.

The next ACSS Board meeting is scheduled for September 30 – October 1, 2016.

Visit the Newly Redesigned Political Program Section of the ACSS Website!

Take a peek at the new Political Program pages of the ACSS website.  In addition to the usual list of endorsed candidates and lobby day information, we have added the following:

• Political News - News from the blog related to ACSS political events, news, and activities.
• Legislative News - News from the blog related to legislative activity.
• Legislative Report - A thorough report where you can see which bills ACSS sponsors, opposes and watches.
• Photos and slideshows of ACSS involved in political and legislative activities.

Let us know what you think! Email communications@acss.org with comments or questions.