Bargaining Kicks Off Today for Unit 10 Rank-and-File. You will likely hear talk around the water cooler – Bargaining commences today for Rank-and-File CAPS members, who are subject to the CAPS MOU, with a meeting between the Bargaining Team and Governor Newsom’s Representatives from CalHR. While Supervisory State Scientists are not subject to the Dill’s Act; and therefore are not covered under CAPS’ Bargaining Efforts, gains made by the Rank-and-File often assist the effort of the CAPS Supervisors Committee in our annual Meet-and-Confers. When our Rank-and-File do well, so do we. You can show your support for CAPS’ Rank and File by wearing your CAPS T-Shirt on Bargaining Days.
Know Your Rights. Voluntary Personal Leave Program. Included in the CalHR Manual, section 2114, is a program designated the “Voluntary Personal Leave Program” (VPLP), which allows State Scientific Supervisors and Managers the ability to reduce their pay by 4.62% or 9.23% in exchange for 8 or 16 hours of VPLP time each month, respectively. Those who enroll continue to work their normally scheduled work hours, but receive the VPLP time which can be used in the same manner as vacation or annual leave time. Scientific Supervisors and Managers hour cap will vary by Department, and may be removed from the program at any time with 30 days notice.
Know Your Rights. Family School Partnership Act. The School year is back in swing and with hot temperatures lingering and students adjusting to their schedules again, it can be necessary for parents to attend to their children’s matters at school. The CalHR Manual, Section 2108 requires employers with 25 or more employees working in a single location to allow an employee who is a parent of one or more children of the age to attend kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, or a licensed childcare provider, up to 40 hours each school year for the purpose of either of the following child-related activities:
- To find, enroll, or re-enroll their child in a school or with a licensed childcare provider, or to participate in activities of the school or licensed childcare provider of their child.
- To address a childcare provider or school emergency, if the employee gives notice to the employer.
Parents must use vacation, personal leave, or CTO; are limited to eight hours in any calendar month; and must give their employer reasonable notice prior to taking the leave for such purposes.
News Briefs
California Department of Public Health announce COVID-19 testing kits arrive at State Public Health laboratories – The California Department of Public Health announced on Friday that new CDC test kits used to detect Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) now available in California can be used to do diagnostic testing in the community.
Researchers encourage awareness of grapevine pest among California’s growers – California’s grape growers should be on the lookout for a potentially serious pest in the state, scientists and researchers say. They’re referring to the spotted lanternfly, just last month designated as a wine grape pest by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pierce’s Disease/Glass-Winged Sharpshooter Board.