NEWS

Comment on ACSS poll results in Sac Bee

Head over to the Sacramento Bee and take a look at this article covering our poll on the inappropriate legislative raises (make sure you take our poll at the left, too, if you haven't already).

The comments section below the article is heating up with misinformed attacks on supervisors and managers, and we need you to fight back the tide of ill informed public opinion.

Please stay civil and professional, even if others do not.

CalPERS fairs offering free savings advice

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) is hosting retirement planning fairs this summer to help their members plan for a more financially secure future.

The fairs begin in Sacramento on August 10 and 11, continue in Anaheim on August 17 and 18, and conclude in Santa Clara on August 30.

Find info on the fairs and how to register after the jump.

ACSS calls on legislators to set fair wages

As the Legislature prepares to return after the summer recess, your ACSS is calling on all legislators to support Senate Bill 1113.

For too long, state supervisors and managers have seen the state's budget balanced on our backs.

Traumatizing pay cuts and furloughs, coupled with near constant attacks on our modest, hard-earned benefits, have backed the state's most skilled and dedicated employees into a corner.

Equally as disturbing as these short-term threats to our livelihood is an issue that receives far less attention, however - the state's long standing lack of fiscal review of compensation for employees excluded from collective bargaining. As you know, in far too many cases, the employees we supervise earn a higher wage than us.

SB 1113, introduced by Sen. Noreen Evans, seeks to remedy this so-called salary compaction and provide supervisors and managers with raises commensurate with their highly skilled and demanding positions. Your ACSS believes it is imperative that Sen. Evans' colleagues vote unanimously to enact this modest legislation immediately following the summer recess in order to avoid a looming critical reduction in public services.

ACSS commends Sen. Evans for her continued support of the state's supervisors, managers, and confidential employees.

See the full text of SB 1113 here.

10th Delegate Assembly wraps up

ACSS Chapter Officers being sworn in at Delegate Assembly 2012.

The 10th ACSS Delegate Assembly took place July 20-22.

Delegates representing thousands of ACSS members from every corner of the state convened to adjust the ACSS bylaws to better serve you and to elect a new compliment of directors and officers to serve the organization for the next three years.

Take a moment to read President Espinoza's report on the activities or get to know your new 2013-2015 Board of Directors, composed of state supervisors and managers from the Department of Motor Vehicles, Deptarment of Corrections, State Compensation Fund, Department of Finance, and more.

Poll: What do you think about the legislative raises?

Just one month after they stated that the severe cuts they proposed in their budget - including a universal 5% cut to your modest pay - were "made from necessity, not to make a point," Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez have approved up to 10% raises for nearly 100 legislative employees making in excess of $100,000 a year.

Your ACSS wants to know your opinion on this matter.

Do you think the raises are just? Do you think the cuts to your livelihood are still justified? Do you think the legislature needs to enact a similar incentive program for state supervisors and managers?

Take the poll on the lefthand side of our website and tell us your opinion about these controversial raises.

NOTE: You must have Flash player installed to view and vote in the poll.

ACSS Exec. Director criticizes leg. raises

ACSS Executive Director Rocco R. Paternoster recently spoke with the L.A. Times regarding the raises granted to nearly 100 legislative employees already making in excess of $100,000 per year.

"It's really a slap in the face not only [to] the employees but also the public," said Paternoster.

The raises - up to 10% for some employees, according to the Times - were approved by both Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez just one month after they announced a budget rife with cuts that they insisted were "made from necessity, not to make a point."

The news of a privileged few receiving raises as thousands of state supervisors and managers struggle to make ends meet in light of a nearly 5% pay cut levied against them this month is dismaying, confirmed Paternoster.

"Supervisors and managers who have met or exceeded job performance expectations haven't had a raise to look forward to in years - just cuts."

As always, your ACSS is committed to fighting unjust attacks on your modest compensation.

Read the entire L.A. Times article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legislature-raises-20120720,0,7113664.story

ACSS Quarterly: Arriving soon!

Keep an eye on your mailbox for the newest edition of ACSS Quarterly, featuring articles on ACSS election results, political action, and more!

In the meantime, feel free to browse through last quarter's issue on our news page.

Pension attacks won't be on ballot

Gov. Brown confirmed this week that revisions to the modest public employee pension system will not be on the ballot for November's General Election, but that he intends to drive through pension changes in the legislature.

Inside sources have told ACSS that Gov. Brown called on legislators to come to an agreement on pension cuts by the end of August.

Your ACSS is committed to fighting unfair pension slashing, especially the implementation of a questionable "hybrid" scheme that would place up to half of state employee pensions in a risky 401(k) investment.

CDCR Alert: Meet and Confers

As the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) moves forward with a drastic reform of California's penal system, the Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS) is meeting with CDCR to protect the rights of state excluded employees.

According to CDCR, the plan blueprint - titled The Future of California Corrections - will "cut billions in spending, comply with multiple federal court orders for inmate medical, mental health and dental care, and significantly improve the operation of California's prison system."

In July and August ACSS will meet and confer with CDCR and CalHR over changes to the working conditions of excluded employees.

Read more about what ACSS will discuss, and how you can help, after the jump.

DPA releases excluded employee PLP 2012 memo

DPA has released a personnel memo detailing the Personal Leave Program (PLP) for 2012 for excluded and exempt employees.

Your ACSS is analyzing the PML and its relation to the separately released bargaining unit PMLs detailing PLP 2012.

We have arranged a meeting with DPA to address any potential violations of your rights as an excluded employee. Check back soon for details.