Bargaining Team Met with CalHR. The CAPS Bargaining Team (CAPS Team) met with CalHR (State’s Team), to continue bargaining over the terms of a potential successor MOU. The Teams discussed some outstanding sections, and the CAPS Team gave another presentation relating back to the “Avoiding Collapse” presentation from early 2022.
Avoiding Collapse – Diversity Loss. The CAPS Team presented to the State’s Team on how California will soon be experiencing wholesale loss of diverse ecosystems as a result of climate change, and how the State must recruit and retain the best and brightest scientists in order to combat these negative effects. The presentation hit home how climate change is already impacting the biodiversity of California and how that is already and will continue to cause untold economic and human health consequences. It also stressed that State Scientists and their programs must be competitively compensated and fully funded to attract and retain a highly qualified scientific workforce. You can view the presentation here.
CAPS Team Passed Proposals. The CAPS Team passed a proposal to the State’s Team, designed to ensure State Scientist Veterinarians be compensated for providing round-the-clock care to California’s wildlife. The new proposal is Section 7.XX – On-Call/Standby – Veterinarians. An additional proposal for a new section, 19.13 – Data Collection, was also passed. You can view all of CAPS’ proposals passed this round of Bargaining here.
State’s Team Passed Proposals. The State’s Team passed proposals on CAPS MOU, Sections 2.4, Bilingual Differential Pay; and 3.23 Personal Leave Program – 2020; 7.7 Work Week Group Definitions; and 7.10 Telework/Telecommute. The State’s Team also noted that the CAPS Team’s salary proposal is under review, and they did not expect to be ready to discuss the proposal until the teams reconvene in May.
Teams Tentatively Agreed to Several Sections. The Teams Tentatively Agreed (TA’d) to several sections of the successor MOU, including 2.4 Bilingual Differential Pay; 3.23, Personal Leave Program – 2020; and 7.10 Telecommute/Telework Program. You can view all of CAPS’ tentatively agreed to (TA’d) sections here.
CAPS Needs Your Support Delivering Petitions. The Member Action Committee (MAC) will be delivering several larger-than-life petitions on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Downtown Sacramento and is inviting you to participate. The petitions will be delivered to Governor Gavin Newsom; California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Secretary Jared Blumenfeld; California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Secretary Wade Crowfoot; California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross; and California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly. The first three petitions were signed, enlarged, and printed, some time ago, but the last two need more signatures. The MAC encourages all members to sign, and to share the petitions far and wide for signatures before they, too, are enlarged, printed, and delivered. The delivery will take place on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Downtown Sacramento, and participating members should meet at Cesar Chavez Plaza (910 I Street, Sacramento) at 11am. All Rank and File members are invited to attend in support of CAPS Bargaining. Those intending to come should RSVP here ahead of the event. Please note, attendance will need to be on your own personal time, so get your leave request in early!
Looking Forward. The CAPS Bargaining Team plans to meet with the State’s Team once more in April. The next presentation, continuing our series related to the original “Avoiding Collapse” presentation will focus on human population growth and consumption patterns, and how the work of State Scientists helps ensure the sustainability of California’s resources amid increased demand. The presentation will also communicate why it’s critical for the State to provide competitive salaries to attract and retain the best scientific talent available.