Union Action

caps-rally-petition

Follow the links below to view member actions available to you!

Current Actions

Wednesday, January 10th, Governor Newsom is required by the state’s constitution to issue his economic predictions as part of his 2024-25 State Budget proposal to the Legislature, and State Scientists and their supporters will be there!

ACTION: Make some noise to call on this Administration to #ValueScientists! You can do so in-person in Sacramento and on social media (if you aren’t able to come in person). NOTE: Participation must be done on personal time. 

The Governor’s Office announced today that the press conference location will not be released to the public. 

WHEN: Wednesday, January 10, 2023, various times, depending on in-person or virtual participation (see below for virtual participation times)! The Press Conference begins at 10:30 a.m., so see you in-person from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: In person in Sacramento outside of the Capitol Annex Swing Space (where our legislator’s offices are during the Capitol Renovation) from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and online via social media! As always, CAPS’ goal when picketing is to be loud, proud, and productive, and to engage in actions in a lawful manner. Check out our Practice Picket Toolkit for more resources.

WHY: When Newsom announces the 2024-25 State Budget, State Scientists will picket nearby at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and take to social media to ensure the public, key decision-makers, and Governor Newsom know that the time is now to #ValueScientists! 

Call out the cognitive dissonance of this Administration at the Governor’s budget reveal! This governor claims to be a champion of fair and equitable pay for all Californians while continuing a long tradition dating back to the Schwarzenegger administration of shortchanging State Scientists. He touts California’s cutting-edge programs to fight climate change as a model for the world while refusing to provide a raise that could attract and retain the skilled workforce required to run those programs.

Sign up here and commit to showing up for yourself and your colleagues! 

Can’t make it in person?  Join the action online by posting and sharing on social media at least once every hour from 8:00am – 4:00pm PST as we highlight the critical role California State Scientists play in tackling the global challenge of climate change, protecting the health of our communities, sustaining our agricultural industry, and beyond! 

Participate in our social media storm by using this toolkit that includes posts, images, and hashtags, here

Be sure to also follow @capsscientists on our official social media and amplify our message: CAPS Twitter/X and Instagram.

ADDITIONAL NOTE SPECIFICALLY FOR WORK WEEK GROUP E FOLKS: If you are a State Scientist employed in Work Week Group E (WWG E), leave can only be granted in all-day increments per the California State Civil Service Pay Scales Online Manual (54th Edition), Section 10. So, should a WWG E Scientist wish to participate in this action in-person, for the duration, the section cited above would require that the scientist take the entire day off to picket on-site wherever the Governor stages his press conference. If the WWG E scientist is unable to take a whole day off, they should engage as part of the group participating in the Social Media Storm on their break times. Have more questions about this? Contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org)!  

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! 

NOTE: You can download the Practice Picketing Social Media Posts here

Participate in CAPS Solidarity Breaks! Pursuant to California Labor Law, you are entitled to regular break periods every shift. The CAPS Solidarity Breaks Action is for you to take your regular break period with other State Scientist colleagues on TUESDAYS. These breaks are meant to be taken in solidarity with the CAPS Bargaining Team who are meeting with the State on Tuesdays to help us win a better contract. 

Coordination of CAPS Solidarity Breaks can be easy. See the materials CAPS has produced to help you get a group together to stand together!

CAPS Solidarity Breaks are meant to be a VISUAL Action! Take to social media to be sure that your breaks are making the noise CAPS needs. Take a picture of yourself and your colleagues rocking your CAPS green! (Still need a shirt? Order one here!) Tag CAPS on social media: @capsscientists (Instagram and Twitter), and use the hashtag #ValueScientists. Email your photos to caps@capsscientists.org to be featured on CAPS’ social media.

The Goal: 

Solidarity Breaks will bring a visual aspect to worksites of the important work that scientists do day in and day out. Additionally, the visual impact makes noise all on its own to management and the Administration. Take a CAPS Solidarity Break to show that YOU support YOUR Bargaining Team and are participating in actions to illustrate to the Administration that CAPS Scientists need to be VALUED via compensation that recognizes the important work that we do. 

Not in the office on Tuesdays? See here for more information on how YOU can participate in this action. 

Update your email signature block to contain one of the following approved-by-CAPS statements:

We are calling upon the State to VALUE Science and VALUE Scientists, who work tirelessly to ensure that Californians are protected from life-threatening diseases, safeguard our wildlife and abundant natural resources, ensure the safety of our food, and protect our air and water from toxic waste and pollution. 

IMPORTANT! Be Advised. Make sure you can participate! Please be sure to review the convenient Departmental Chart here to see if you can participate. Should you choose to participate in this Member Action while working for a department whose policy does not allow it, you may be subject to disciplinary action. CAPS may be unable to rectify such disciplinary action for members who choose to participate regardless of the policy. So, be sure that you can participate without disciplinary action before you do! 

The Goal: 

This action is another way to visibly show your support for your CAPS Bargaining Team and educate others about our issues. Take action to illustrate to the State that YOU and YOUR COLLEAGUES are engaged, unified and deserve to be VALUED via compensation that recognizes the important work that you do. 

Complete an Action Commitment Card (paper or online form) to show your commitment to participate in ongoing and upcoming CAPS actions. 

To show your SOLIDARITY with your colleagues, post completed Action Commitment Cards at the worksite and in appropriate online spaces! There are two ways to receive an Action Commitment Card:

  • Access a virtual Action Commitment Card here or 
  • Request this card from your area Board of Directors Member, Local Representative or CAT Worksite Leader 

Once you complete the card, showcase the actions you currently participate in and those that you commit to. Then, post it in the following visible areas!

  • Worksite Union Bulletin: Your worksite should have a union bulletin; post it up respectfully allowing space for other unions to post information.
  • Your personal workspace (e.g., your cubicle).
  • Your social media accounts: Don’t forget to tag @capsscientists and use the hashtag #ValueScientists.

The Goal: 

Show support for your CAPS Bargaining Team and show the State that all State Scientists are participating to win a fair contract! 

To read the letter and take action, click here