On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, our Union’s Bargaining Unit 15 Statewide CDCR Food Service JLMC met with the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CDCR-CCHCS) to address issues CDCR and CDCR-CCHCS Food Service Workers are experiencing across the state. We covered the following topics:

On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, our Union’s Bargaining Unit 15 Statewide CDCR Food Service JLMC met with the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CDCR-CCHCS) to address issues CDCR and CDCR-CCHCS Food Service Workers are experiencing across the state. We covered the following topics:

  • Medical Dietary Operational Procedures
  • Budgeting for and process to fix and replace broken equipment
  • ServSafe Training Opportunities
  • Issues with inmate pay being too low for working in the kitchen

CDCR and CCHCS came prepared and brought subject matter experts to speak on the issues we are raising. While there was good discussion and we were provided a lot of information, at the same time a lot of our questions and concerns continue to remain unanswered.

It is critical for Correctional Supervising Cooks (CSCs) to stay vigilant in addressing issues with broken equipment, such as: making sure to be writing work orders; communicating with your supervisors when equipment remains broken; and, presenting issues at your institution’s monthly Health and Safety JLMC.

“We as CSCs need to come together and collectively act in solidarity with one voice” ~ Ashleymarie Bermudez, CSC Job Steward and CDCR Food Service JLMC member

We need CSCs across the state to be proactive in addressing issues at your local institution. Please contact your Unit 15 inbox with your concerns by emailing [email protected] 

The CDCR Food Service JLMC team is led by Garth Underwood along with Brent Andrews, Ashleymarie Bermudez, Everett Steinman, and Kevin Quaife. To learn more about your CDCR Food Service JLMC Team, please go to www.seiu1000.org