Supervisors FAQ. Can Supervisory State Scientists attend Worksite Meetings? Unless otherwise stated in the invitation, all CAPS members are welcome to attend worksite meetings. These meetings are a good place to hear about current events with the Board of Directors, to talk to your District Director and/or CAPS Staff about issues you may be experiencing in your workplace, and (after the meeting) to get one-on-one time with your local CAPS leadership should you need individual representation.

The “Excluded Employees Bill of Rights,” (Government Code Sections 3525 – 3539.5) prevents so-called “excluded” employees from voting “on questions of ratification or rejection of memoranda of understanding reached on behalf of nonexcluded employees,” but it does not prevent those employees from participating in meetings with their “excluded employee organization,” in this case, CAPS. Conversely, it explicitly allows them to “join, and participate in the activities…or the purpose of representation on all matters of supervisory employer-employee relations.” Questions? Contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org).

Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisor)/(Specialist) Lawsuit. CAPS Attorney Christiana Dominguez presented oral arguments last Thursday, January 28, at the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento in CAPS’ long running litigation with CalHR, CDFW, and the State Personnel Board (SPB) over CDFW’s use of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) class to supervise its peers in the Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) class.

Before a panel of three Associate Appellate Court Justices, CAPS argued that CDFW and CalHR violated the Personnel Classification Plan when they changed reporting relationships without taking the matter to SPB for consideration and SPB, in turn, failed to exercise its jurisdiction and take them to task for doing so.

A decision has not yet been rendered. There is no timeline for the Court’s decision. A resolution is expected within a much shorter time frame than that between the completion of briefing and Thursday’s arguments. CAPS will keep you updated.

Science Fair Season Kicks Off Soon! CAPS sponsors a Special Award at 15 Regional Science & Engineering Fairs, statewide, rewarding excellence in scientific subjects that CAPS members work in every day. If you are interested in being a volunteer CAPS Special Awards Judge at the Fair closest to you, contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org)!

News Briefs

Newcastle reemerges, spreads in California. Virulent Newcastle disease resurged in Southern California as people broke quarantines by moving birds and farming equipment, state authorities said.