Please sign the Petitions to Support Your Bargaining Team. In an effort to assist CAPS in its quest to secure equitable compensation for all Unit 10 employees, the CAPS Member Action Committee (MAC) has helped organize three petitions.
The first petition is to the Governor and is linked here:https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/implementing-the-states-like-pay-for-like-work-laws-and-policies-to-resolve-state-scientists-pay-inequity. It requests the Governor to direct CalHR to follow the intent of Government Code 19826 stating that “like work deserves like pay.”
The second petition is directed to the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Secretary and is linked here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-for-resolving-the-state-scientists-pay-inequity-issue-2/. It urges Secretary Blumenfeld to work with Governor Newsom to resolve State Scientists’ longstanding pay inequity.
The third petition is to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Secretary and is linked here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/support-for-resolving-the-state-scientists-pay-inequity-issue/. It urges Secretary Crowfoot to also work with Governor Newsom to resolve State Scientists’ longstanding pay inequity.
The MAC is stressing the urgency of signing these petitions as soon as possible and meeting the goal of 1500 signatures. These petitions will not only ensure your voices are heard, but demonstrate State Scientists are united in solidarity behind the CAPS Bargaining Team. There is power in collective action!
Difficulty Accessing or Signing the Petition? Please note, some members have reported difficulty accessing the petitions, this is likely due to your Department’s firewall. Members have reported success by emailing the links to themselves at a private email address. Other members have reported that submitting a comment prevents the system from accepting their signature. If that’s the case, the organizers encourage you to submit just your name, email, and zip code, and provide your comments in a letter to CalHR or the Governor, as others have done in support of Bargaining, instead. You can view previous member’s letters, and submit your own comments here.
Administrative Time Off (ATO) for COVID-19 Vaccinations. In early March, CalHR informed departmental Human Resources Offices that a reasonable amount of ATO is allowable for vaccines. CalHR advised departments that the typical ATO allotment is up-to two (2) hours, but informed them that more or less may be approved, depending upon individual circumstances. CAPS is contacting all departments where members have informed us ATO has not yet been provided to encourage them to do so. If you have already, or are currently scheduling your COVID-19 vaccination, be sure to request ATO. If you have issues, as always, contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org)!
Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Employees Impacted by the Pandemic. On March 19, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 95: legislation to ensure access to up to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for eligible employees, including those advised to quarantine or isolate and those caring for COVID-impacted family members. SB 95 extends protections through September 30, 2021 and is retroactive to sick leave taken beginning January 1, 2021. With the news of the enacted legislation, CAPS reached out to CalHR who expects to have a directive to Departments regarding the use of SB 95 sick leave by next week. You can read more about this new Supplemental Paid Sick Leave in the CalHR Manual here.
News Briefs.
‘Bad taste.’ CalPERS board regrets pension mistakes, but votes to deny retiree appeals – The Sacramento Bee Leaders of California’s $445 billion public employee pension system were uncomfortable last week after they rejected a batch of appeals from retirees who believed they were owed more money than they’re getting every month. Members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration turned down nine of the 10 requests they considered. Still, they said they wanted to prevent mistakes in estimates that can cost retirees thousands of dollars a month. Board member David Miller said that the decisions left a “bad taste” among board members even though they were supported by California pension law. “I think we really deserve, our members really deserve us to take a deeper dive because all too often we make decisions that are in line with our fiduciary responsibility, but that do not feel fair or just to our members,” Miller said.
Biden plan helps employers expand family leave. Will California offer it to state workers? – The Sacramento Bee A paid federal family-leave expansion that helped many California state workers manage coronavirus disruptions last year remains in limbo this year under President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. When Congress approved the first coronavirus relief package a year ago, it required most employers, including the State of California, to offer 10 weeks of family and medical leave at two-thirds pay, up to a maximum of $10,000, for parents with children at home due to the virus. Congress allowed the mandatory leave to expire, but offered tax credits to employers who wanted to continue a new, expanded version of the program. The state doesn’t pay federal taxes, so it doesn’t have the same incentive a private employer would to offer the program. Last year the state used federal coronavirus funds to pay the mandatory benefits. This year California will receive $26 billion in federal stimulus money, but it is not clear if it could be used to cover expanded family leave benefits.
In Review. Check out what you may have missed from past CAPS Updates here:
March 23, 2021. Want a Discount on your Insurance Needs? CAPS members get group discounts on a variety of insurances through Liberty Mutual Insurance, just for being a part of CAPS! You need to have auto, renter’s, or homeowner’s insurance, so why not secure it at a lower cost? You can even have your insurance paid automatically out of your check each month so you don’t need to have another bill to remember! For more information about personal insurance (including homeowners, renters, or auto insurance), please click here. To learn more about the pet insurance program, please click here.
Read other past messages on the CAPS Website here: http://capsscientists.org/members/caps-member-updates/. The password is Winter2020 – it IS case-sensitive.
Choose Unity. Choose Strength. Choose CAPS!