The Latest from AFSCME 2620

BILLS FOR REVIEW

July 28, 2010 BREAKING NEWS

From the Administrator: Congratulations on the ratification of your contract. You are exempt from the Governor's Executive Order that requires 3 PLP (Personal Leave Program) days per month from employees.

July 23, 2010 BREAKING NEWS

To: Pam Manwiller, Chief Negotiator and the entire Bargaining team, it brings me great pleasure to announce the ratification of Local 2620's contract. Our members overwhelmingly voted to ratify the contract by 92% of those voting. Please join me in congratulating the negotiations team for all of their hard work. They have been an exemplary model of cooperation and respect during a very difficult time in California’s history. They formed a historic coalition with the CHP, Firefighters and the Psych Techs to define pension reform rather than having it defined for us. The negotiations team thanks the membership for their input and support and appreciates your cooperation in the ratification process. Remember,” What we can’t do alone, we can do together.” In unity, Flora Walker, Administrator.

Political Action Skills Training

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NEW - TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION FORM

Download Travel Authorization Form here!

Contract Summary

Read Summary Agreement here!

Pay Letter explains that Local 2620 is exempt from the Minimum Wage Executive Order

Read the letter here!

June 28, 2010 BREAKING NEWS

BU 19 will continue to receive their salaries in the absence of a budget due to language in the tentative agreement. When the contract is ratified by our members, you will have that protection for two years. The new contract also protects you from the imposition of any furlough days.

Ballots for ratification of the contract are being mailed this week. If you do not receive your ballot by July 9th or you want to change your status from fee payor to member, please contact Judy Barnes. Her email is judy.barnes@ca.afscme57.org and phone number is 916 923-1860 or 800 858-0442. All ballots must be received by close of business July 22, 2010.

FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR

Summary of Tentative Agreement

FOUR BARGAINING UNITS AGREE TO MAJOR CONTRACT REFORMS

Read the details here!

June 3, 2010 BREAKING NEWS

A message from your Administrators

State Employees: New Budget More Difficult Than the Last

Sacramento Bee
May 20, 2010

For some state employees, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s revised budget contains cuts that are even deeper than those in earlier budgets that sparked lawsuits from public employee unions.
http://capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=yuqxbkqh79x5au

Negotiations Update

On Wednesday May 14, the Bargaining Team returned to the negotiating table for the second time since March 11th in Sacramento at the Department of Personnel Administration in Sacramento. There have been some informal discussions in between the dates.

Attached are the State of California's Conceptual Proposal to AFSCME (BU 19) - May 19, 2010 and AFSCME, BU 19, Response to Conceptual Proposal of May 4, 2010 - May 19, 2010.

The meeting was brief and the State Negotiator advised she would review the response to the Conceptual Proposal and get back to us. No further date to return to the table was set.

The Bargaining Team continues to work well together. Present: Peter Flores, Mary Sorial, Arlene Pereida, Michael Hewitt, Tom Dirkovich, Pam Manwiller, Annalisa Sherman, Pat Gehr, Steve Shanahan. Not Present: Lon Moskowitz (Religious Holiday) and Lance Ferris.

We will keep you posted as new developments occur. We will do everything possible to ensure the best agreement will be acquired for our members. If you have feedback on the Negotitations, please go to our website www.afscme2620.org and click on the left side to contact your Occupational Chair.

In Unity,

Steve Shanahan, President
AFSCME 2620
s.r.shanahan@att.net
(510) 333-1146

May 17, 2010

To: All BU 19 Social Workers

From: Robert Battle, Business Agent

RE: New Fingerprint Requirements for Licensees and Registrants

Schwarzenegger Budget Would Eliminate Welfare

Sacramento Bee
May 16, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger proposed cuts to state worker compensation in his budget revise released Friday. Besides asking for a 5 percent pay cut, 5 percent payroll cap and 5 percent increased pension contribution, Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting one day per month of pay in exchange for leave credit.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/14/2751461/schwarzenegger-budget-would-eliminate.html#ixzz0nwCOwx6D

AFSCME 2620 member and case manager at Lanterman Developmental Center, testifies to keep California Lanterman Developmental Center open

Terrence Green, AFSCME 2620 member and case manager at Lanterman Developmental Center, testifies in the California Assembly on the responsibility of caring for the developmentally disabled. Terrence testified that moving older developmentally disabled clients of Lanterman will have a devastating impact on their lives.





Click to view his testimony!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCxu-fW5hJs

AFSCME 2620 member and psychologist at Lanterman Developmental Center, testifies in the California Assembly

Dr. Ed Nelson, AFSCME 2620 member and psychologist at Lanterman Developmental Center, testifies in the California Assembly. Dr. Nelson raises serious questions on the long-term repercussions of closing Lanterman. He shares his professional judgment on why Lanterman should remain open.





Click to view his testimony!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UThEmrieuK4

Negotiations Update

The Negotiating Team is returning to the Negotiations Table on May 19th in Sacramento at the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA). We will let you know how the session goes after the meeting. Please continue to communicate with your Occupational Chairs listed on our website on the left side regarding your thoughts on the Negotiations -- www.afscme2620.org

Steve Shanahan, President
AFSCME 2620
s.r.shanahan@att.net
(510) 333-1146

Furloughs - Ending or not?

As the Governor and the lawyers representing the Unions battle it out as to whether the furloughs are legal , it's not surprising that members are confused about whether the end of furloughs is truly near. We all know that we currently are furloughed three days per month.

Will the furloughs be ending? The answer is yes. The last month of furloughs will be June, 2010. Your first paycheck without the furlough deductions will be on August 1, 2010. Of course, things could change but the lawsuits against the furloughs are showing that the State is losing money on the furloughs in legal costs, overtime and by hiring contractors to fill in the labor gap created by the furloughs. The furloughs are a complete failure in saving money for the State of California.

Talk around the Capitol in Sacramento is that "we've never seen anything like this" when they refer to the roller coaster ride that State workers have been on for the past few years. The Governor has scapegoated State Workers to hide the truth -- that he has been ineffective in making our State government work. This means that we must do everything possible to make sure that Jerry Brown is in the Governor's seat come this Fall. We need to start now by registering everyone we know to vote and that we all vote pro-labor in the upcoming elections. Join local organizations in getting the vote out for Jerry Brown and pro-labor candidates.

We, as members of 2620, are the leaders in solving the economic crisis in California. Not only are we voters and political activists, but we provide the solutions to social issues. Everyday on our jobs, we support and rehabilitate those in our State who are closest to becoming homeless, mentally ill, drug-addicted or on their way back to prisons. Let your Legislators know that we are proud because we save the State money!

When you visit your Legislator's office, always be sure to introduce yourself as a member of AFSCME 2620 (not as a representative of the State). . This is your right and privilege as a citizen to express yourself to State lawmakers and educate them on what we do. Don't let it go to waste. This year more than ever AFSCME 2620 along with other members of organized labor will have a huge impact on making California whole again.

The deadlines are approaching to register to vote. Go to: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm to register.

Don't forget to tell members about our website www.afscme2620.org and click on the "Share Your Story" link to get the word out about who we are to others in our Union.

The State Worker: Does Minimum Wage Loom?

Sacramento Bee
April 29, 2010

A budget gimmick that lawmakers embraced last year may soon bite state workers in the paycheck - and give Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a stick to wield in his last budget go-round with Democrats.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/29/v-print/2713921/the-state-worker-does-minimum.html

Breaking News!
Supreme Court Rejects Schwarzenegger Furlough Consolidation

Sacramento Bee
Thursday April 22, 2010

The California Supreme Court has rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's request that it take up seven key furlough lawsuits now in two appellate courts and freeze more than a dozen others in trial courts around the state. The decision ends the possibility for a relatively quick resolution to about two dozen furlough lawsuits in courts around the state.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/22/2698701/supreme-court-rejects-schwarzenegger.html

Court Ruling Allows State Furloughs to Continue

San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday April 14, 2010

A state appeals court prolonged furloughs Tuesday for tens of thousands of state employees, requiring them to take three days off without pay each month.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/14/BACO1CU8L9.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Negotiations Update - the Latest - 4/8/10

Some of you have been asking what is happening at Negotiations. We are aware that this is very important to our members and are taking all necessary steps to assure that our bargaining is successful and that we will win the best contract in these difficult times.

Click here to read more.

AFSCME 2620 testifies to protect State worker wages

The Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security passed AB 1699 by Assemblyman Ed Hernandez (D-Baldwin Park) on April 7 that would prevent Gov. Schwarzenegger from reducing state employee wages to minimum wage during a budget impasse. This would ensure state employees continue to receive full wages and benefits, even if a budget is not enacted by the start of the new fiscal year, July 1, 2010. AFSCME 2620 lobbyist Sue North testified in support of the bill and reminded the committee of the devastating impacts if this important legislation is not passed. The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a vote.





View the testimony here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdHrblEF7qs

AFSCME 2620 testifies to ratify a collective bargaining agreement

The Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security passed AB 1592 by Assemblyman Nava (D-Santa Barbra) on April 7 that would ratify a collective bargaining agreement (memorandum of understanding) between the State of California and Collective Bargaining Unit 19. AFSCME 2620 lobbyist Sue North testified in support of the bill. The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a vote.





View the testimony here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozdXAAZUaZo

Lanterman Closure Plan Released

The Lanterman Closure Plan was submitted today to the Legislature and will be available at www.dds.ca.gov as well as the Lanterman intranet. Meetings will be scheduled soon at Lanterman for informational purposes. Our union will aggressively fight this closure in the Legislature.

Contracting Out VICTORY!!

The California State Personnel Board upholds our assertion: outsourcing CDCR Clinical Social Worker and Psychologist Service contracts violates State Law.



Read the full story here!
Click here for past stories!