The Unit 20 bargaining team returned to the table on July 6 to negotiate with the State’s team. Once again, the State’s refusal to take their worker’s concerns seriously took center stage. In spite of this, SEIU Local 1000 members will continue to fight for their rights and needs in the workplace to be respected.
SEIU presented the following proposals to the State’s negotiating team today:
- 8.26.20 CDCR – CCHCS Vacation Scheduling – Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and Medical Assistants, (MAs) (Unit 20) – Updated language that SEIU Local 1000 and the State worked on as task force back in 2019, which was created as a procedure afterward. The team wanted this language in the contract.
- 10.5.20 Safety Orientation (Unit 20) – SEIU Local 1000 accepted additional language that the State added to create a Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) to ensure that BU 20 employees are receiving safety orientation within the appropriate time frame.
- 13.30.20 Orientation (Unit 20) – SEIU Local 1000 proposed a rollover language since the State wasn’t willing to accept the new language to strengthen this process.
- 19.9.20 Exchange of Time Off – Multi-Shift Operations (Unit 20) – SEIU Local 1000 presented a counter proposal for this section to assist limited-term employees to enable them to do swaps for time off.
The State offered counter proposals for the following articles today –
- X.XX.20 State Issued Cell Phones – The Schools for the Deaf (Fremont and Riverside) (Unit 20) – The state countered our initial proposal and rejected it completely.
- 20.XXXX.X Assignment Preference Teaching Assistants– Special Schools (Unit 20) The state countered our initial proposal and rejected it completely.
- 9.20.20 Continuation of Flexible Benefits Election (Unit 20) – The state is sending this to the Master table and won’t discuss it at the Unit table.
- 19.9.20 Exchange of Time Off – Multi-Shift Operations (Unit 20) – The state is proposing rollover for this article section.
- 19.XXXX.20 Overtime Distribution Task Force for Fremont Special Schools (Unit 20) – The state countered our new language proposal with the language of their own, however, the team needs to review it thoroughly before responding with a counterproposal.
We were able to reach the following tentative agreements today –
- 8.26.20 CDCR – CCHCS Vacation Scheduling – Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and Medical Assistants, (MAs) (Unit 20) – Updated language that SEIU Local 1000 and the State worked on as task force back in 2019, which was created as a procedure afterward. The team wanted this language in the contract.
- 10.5.20 Safety Orientation (Unit 20) – SEIU Local 1000 accepted additional language that the State added to create a Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) to ensure that BU 20 employees are receiving safety orientation within the appropriate time frame.
- 13.30.20 Orientation (Unit 20) – Rollover.
While we’ve passed a lot of language to the State today focusing on overtime and counterproposals to expand opportunities for probational employees, the State has not provided anything material in return.
“It doesn’t seem like they’re willing to bargain,” said Unit 20 Chair Heather Markovich. “We get back rejection, rejection, rejection, even in the face of the data that explains the situation in workplaces across the state.”
Unit 20 is still fighting for the Exchange of Time Off language to support employees during their year-long probationary period while battling with overwork and rising costs of living. This would be a win for both the State and employees. Employees would be able to get the time off they need, and the State would know the shifts will be covered, which would save the State money as no overtime is required.
“They think that people up in Sacramento know more than people on the ground and the experts who have provided this data,” said Markovich.
One issue that the State’s negotiating team has consistently failed to provide meaningful input on is staff cell phones.
“Regarding cell phones, we’ve brought evidence that this issue goes back at least to 2015, and there’s been silence that whole time,” said Silas Wagner. “They deny that this is an issue and ignore the reality we live with.”
Working with students on field trips, to the store, and to and from their houses, staff have to use their personal phones and are encouraged to do so. The security of the staff’s personal information is a risk for teaching assistants and residential counselors, who are required to distribute their personal information to students, parents, and coworkers.
Workers at California Deaf Schools don’t have consistent distribution and access to resources like phones, video phones, and other resources across classifications. We are not supported by the State while we are working out and about with students. This is an unacceptable situation for all involved, according to Silas Wagner, a Unit 20 bargaining team member working at California School for the Deaf (CSD), Riverside.
“We have shown them stacks of data and reporting,” said Wagner. “The sad part is, when they say this can be resolved at the local level, we’ve made the efforts to do it that way. We’ve taken these issues to Joint Labor Management Committees (JLMCs) and to management directly. Nothing has happened.”
At hearing schools, the state provides walkie-talkies to staff, which cannot be used by any Deaf staff working at the Deaf schools. This obvious problem has not been addressed by management or the State’s bargaining team.
“The Unit 20 lead negotiator for the State repeatedly says she’s concerned that these issues are ongoing, but she still refuses to make a change,” said Wagner. “Something is not right here on the State’s side.”
The fight for respect in the workplace does not end at the negotiating table. Unit 20 employees are prepared to exert their rights in the workplace to demand an end to the policies which have created an untenable situation for workers and families across the state.
“Right now, it’s summer break,” said Wagner. “Our members are planning to stop using their personal phones at the start of the school year to protest this unfair policy. We’ll be grieving this every time it happens; we’ll be fighting this continuously; and we’ll be participating in the Union’s escalating actions as we address the failures of the State’s bargaining team.”
Unit 20 will return to the table as needed to complete a great contract for our members. To see updates on other bargaining unit contract sessions, please visit the Contract Action Center page at seiu1000.org
There’s real truth to the Local 1000 slogan, Stronger Together. We only win a great contract with a strong Local 1000 membership. So, if you’re not already a member, we encourage you to join us today.
If you have questions about actions planned at your worksite, contact the Member Resource Center (MRC) at 866.471.SEIU (7348), Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.