Phase 2 of the CAPS Reclassification and Pay Project will begin on February 19 with the first meeting between CAPS and CalHR devoted to salary and benefit negotiations. The goal of the CAPS Bargaining Team is salary equity for ALL state scientists. Upcoming negotiations include both the salary review referenced in section 17.4 of the CAPS MOU, and all items in the CAPS MOU that may require the expenditure of state funds. (Relevant language from CAPS MOU Section 17.4 reads as follows: “…subsequently, the parties shall endeavor to reach agreement regarding compensation related to these classifications for the successor agreement prior to their submission to the State Personnel Board.”)
The last meeting of Phase 1 of the Reclassification and Pay Project was Thursday, January 28. Results have been posted on the CAPS Discussion Forum (http://capsscientistsforum.org/). That’s where CAPS members can view the current status of each of the classification specifications subject to joint review and revision by CAPS and CalHR. Many CAPS members have participated in this process as Subject Matter Experts or simply as interested members who have made suggestions on the Forum. That work is largely done, with unresolved issues in a few areas. CAPS expects to address any and all such unresolved classification issues during the salary review. We will keep the Discussion Forum appropriately updated.