Dear Colleague,
Excellent work engaging in solidarity breaks, the regional rallies, and the Strike Authorization Vote among all the other actions we’ve successfully completed this year! As you may have heard, the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) has declared that CAPS and the State are currently at an impasse in negotiations for a successor agreement. The Governor has also vetoed AB 1677 that was sponsored by CAPS, making it clear this administration does not #ValueScientists! The time is now to continue to turn up the heat!
The Action: PRACTICE PICKETING!
What is it? Practice Picketing is an action which allows you and your colleagues to give the State a taste of what could come if negotiations don’t improve! Neither the State, nor the landlords managing State Department buildings, want bad press that would come from State Scientists picketing their buildings. Let’s put the pressure on the Administration to come to an agreement with CAPS that values State Scientists! Please review the Practice Picketing Toolkit here to learn more about Practice Picketing!
When: During your lunch break or other scheduled break time, starting Tuesday, October 24, 2023!
Where: A worksite near you! Check the Practice Picketing Captain List for updated locations. If your worksite is not on the list, consider volunteering as the Practice Picketing Captain at your worksite here.
How to participate:
- See if your worksite is on the Practice Picketing Captain List! If not, consider volunteering as the Practice Picketing Captain at your worksite here.
- Review the Practice Picketing Toolkit here.
- Make a plan with your colleagues to show up, wear CAPS Green, grab a sign, and get to practice picketing so the State knows what they could be in for, should the CAPS Bargaining Team call for an official strike.
The Goal:
You and your colleagues will continue to put pressure on this Administration! They have heard loud and clear from your CAPS Bargaining Team that their offers at the Bargaining Table are not enough, and that they need to #ValueScientists! Now, you and your colleagues can continue to turn up the heat by practice picketing at your State office building!
Remember: CAPS Practice Pickets are VISUAL Actions! Departments and the Administration will take particular notice when they see remote-centered employees showing up at their worksites en masse to demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, that they are fired up and have run out of patience for being out of a contract for over three years. Your participation shows this Administration that State Scientists are serious about standing up for our VALUE!
Take to social media to be sure that your needs are seen and heard! Take photos of yourself and colleagues rocking the CAPS green during the practice picket. Tag CAPS on social media: @capsscientists (Instagram and X), and use the hashtag #ValueScientists. Email your photos to caps@capsscientists.org to be featured on CAPS social media. Go live at the practice pickets. Talk to the media that show up about why you are there. Most importantly, show up!
Practice Picket on your own time (i.e. scheduled break times, vacation time, annual leave, RDO, etc.).
Have questions? Email caps@capsscientists.org.
Want to join your colleagues in building solidarity and power through actions for a fair contract?
Apply to join the Contract Action Team (CAT) here.
In Solidarity,
The Member Action Committee