Based on the CAPS member survey from May, the CAPS Bargaining Team is considering a proposal to shift from our current disability insurance program – Non-Industrial Disability Insurance (NDI) and Enhanced Non-Industrial Disability Insurance (ENDI). CAPS received over 200 responses to the survey that illustrated 68% support a shift to State Disability Insurance (SDI).
The CAPS Bargaining Team is now asking members to vote on which disability insurance program rank-and-file state scientists would be provided through our Contract. The decision on which program to utilize will be made via the majority of responses from CAPS members through a vote.
- A majority Yes vote will commit the CAPS Bargaining Team to negotiate for SDI.
- A majority No vote means the CAPS Bargaining Team will not negotiate for a change to SDI.
Implementation requires the acceptance of CAPS’ proposal by the State’s Team, contract agreement and ratification by the membership and the Legislature.
The outcome of this vote has the potential to affect your salary and benefits. A shift to SDI would be Unit-wide for all rank-and-file state scientists – there will no exceptions or opportunity to individually opt-out.
Did you review the educational materials? Please visit the CAPS Website here: https://capsscientists.org/resources/family-and-medical-leave-info/ to review all materials that have been released to help inform the membership of the two disability insurance programs that are the topic of this vote, NDI/ENDI and SDI. (The password is ChooseCAPS! – it is case-sensitive.)
Electronic Ballots are being prepared. The CAPS Bargaining Team has contracted with a third-party vendor, Simply Voting, to hold this electronic vote. Here is their website: www.simplyvoting.com; and here is the information about how they ensure security of the balloting in online balloting: https://www.simplyvoting.com/security-and-reliability/.
Ballot login information will be sent to CAPS members’ email address on file (and only to dues-paying members – nonmembers will not receive a ballot) on June 20, 2022. Changed department? Be sure to update your email by emailing caps@capsscientists.org. Voting will conclude at 11:59pm on June 29, 2022.
Choose Unity. Choose Strength. Choose CAPS!