The Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) for Office and Allied Workers represented by Local 1000 Bargaining Unit 4 went to the table with the State April 25th for the second week of negotiations on unit-specific issues.
Unit 4 presented three articles as “rollovers,” proposing that the existing language remains unchanged, keeping in place the hard-won rights from previous contract campaigns. The rollover articles are the following:
- 13.7.4 – Performance Standards
- 13.35.4 – Employee Recognition and Morale Program (FTB, BOE, CDTFA, OTA)
- 20.14.4 – Post and Bid Unit 4 Caltrans in District 4 (San Francisco)
Additionally, we proposed two articles for language changes. The changes are intended to address issues previously identified as needing revision.
During our last bargaining negotiations, a Joint Labor Management Committee was agreed upon. The Lottery Scratcher Sales Bonus language has not been updated since the 1990s. Now, with the input of our Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) at the State Lottery, we were able to bring new recommendations to the table. With the recommendations of both parties at the JLMC about these changes, so the bargaining team is hopeful that the State recognizes this as a common-sense change. said Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) Chair Karen Jefferies.
Finally, the State agreed to one of our rollover articles, and thus, a “Tentative Agreement” was reached on one of our proposed articles:
- 9.18.4 – Caltrans Life Insurance
This article, maintaining the existing protections of CalTrans’s life insurance policy, is important to BU4 members and is a part of the essential safety net for workers across the state.
The State’s slow pace to return proposed articles and proposals to “clean up” articles has caused some concern for the Bargaining team. “It seems like the state is haste to make changes to our articles,” said BUNC Alternate Vice-Chair Jose Eric Alcaraz. In spite of these issues, the team is able to respond. By sending proposals as rapidly or slowly as the State is considering them, the team is able to make sure the state addresses these language changes, rather than letting them linger in limbo during this process. “We don’t want to sit back and wait for them to work through a ton of proposals.”
However, some of the proposed “cleanup” language creates an unbalanced agreement that does not help our members. “The state wants to change this language to something that would be more beneficial for management than our members, said BUNC member Terry Gray. “We are looking for an equal distribution of power with these language changes, and fair language that benefits both parties.
Proposed “cleanup” language from the State creates issues not only with the fairness of our contract, but affects the timing of bargaining. “The languages we passed over last week was easy for the State to agree to, but they decided they wanted to hold onto the proposals,” said Jefferies. “It’s only week two, but we’re sending over proposals with minor language changes. Their attempts to ‘clean up’ this language, reworded and chipped away at the intent and strength of the language. We continue to push back on this.”
Unit 4’s next meeting with the State to win a contract that Respects Us, Protects Us, and Pays Us is set for May 2nd. To read about what happened in Monday’s Bargaining Unit 11, 20, and 21 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.