Our Unit 17 bargaining team recorded progress on a number of fronts for the Registered Nurses we represent; our session today was fraught with disappointment as well.
“Overall, it was very disappointing,” said Vanessa Seastrong, Unit 17 bargaining Chair. “The State’s not respecting us and acts like it doesn’t want to pay us or to improve some critical areas of our working conditions.”
In a number of contract sections we’ve presented, the State’s pushing back on our attempt to strengthen language, instead offering simple rollovers or, in some cases, takeaways in the form of weaker provisions.
“We’ve done our homework, we’ve made thorough and thoughtful presentations based on rigorous research, yet the State’s not showing us the same care and collaboration in return,” said team member Sheila Coonan. “It’s disrespectful.”
We’re still fighting for solutions to a long-standing problem with mandatory overtime. Today, the State continued to kick the can down the road by offering no movement, remaining passive on a dangerous practice that’s unsafe and ignoring our work/life balance.
“Every time, it’s like we’re explaining the problem for the first time,” said Vice Chair Mary Naidoo. “The State’s talking in circles, and it’s unclear what their priorities are. It’s not our members, and it’s disgraceful behavior.”
Still on the table: economic proposals, which have been moved to the master table, and Post and Bid proposals, which the State keeps pushing back on.
On a positive note, we reached tentative agreement on the following contract sections:
- 10.11.17 Hazardous Materials (Unit 17) – language changes from both the Union and the State that were agreed upon
- 13.7.17 Performance Appraisal of Nursing Practices (Unit 17) – rollover
- 13.11.17 Nursing and Upward Mobility Joint Labor Management Committee (Unit 17) – rollover
- 11.2.17 School for the Deaf and Blind Pay Differential (Unit 17) – rollover
Here are the proposals we received from the State today:
- 11.6.17 Overtime Checks (Unit 17) – The State rejected SEIU Local 1000’s language changes and proposed rollover
- 19.14.17 Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services (Unit 17) – counterproposal from State, which our team will review and follow up with the State after a determination is made from team
- 19.15.17 Overtime Mandatory Scheduling (Excluding CDCR) (Unit 17) – counterproposal from State, which the team will review and follow up with the State after a determination is made from team
- 19.22.17 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services (Unit 17) – State proposed rollover language but wanted to use SEIU Local 1000’s number sequence (19.22.17)
- 19.23.17 – Overtime Voluntary Scheduling (Excluding CDCR) (Unit 17) – State proposed rollover language but wanted to use SEIU Local 1000’s number sequence (19.23.17)
- 20.9.17 Post and Bid Assignments by Seniority – CDCR (Unit 17) – State proposed rollover
The Unit 17 team made the following proposals to the State:
- 13.7.17 Performance Appraisal of Nursing Practices (Unit 17) – presented as rollover
- 13.11.17 Nursing and Upward Mobility Joint Labor Management Committee (Unit 17) – presented as rollover
- 11.8.17 Night Shift and Weekend Differential (Unit 17) – added new language to this proposal to afford nurses more pay incentives to work nights and weekends
- 19.8.17 Flexible Work Hours and Alternate Work Schedules (Unit 17) – added new language to this proposal for nurses to take an annual survey to gage interest in working an alternate work schedule to reduce mandatory overtime
You can read the details of these and all current contract articles at contract.seiu1000.org
“We still have a lot of ground to cover in a short time, and we need our members to stand up and stand together to press the State for progress,” added Chair Vanessa Seastrong. “Talk with your coworkers, and your managers, and take part in the activities organized by Local 1000’s Regional Organizing Committee. We can’t win without everybody taking responsibility and taking action.”
A bargaining session is planned for Thursday, June 22, to continue work on mandatory overtime and other issues. Unit 17 also returns to the table next week, on Tuesday, June 27. However, with just ten days remaining until our contract expires, bargaining sessions could happen at any time.
To keep updated, and 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.
And be sure to save your spot for the upcoming June 22 Rally at the Governor’s Office in Los Angeles here.