“Why am I choosing to stick with my Local during this crisis?” Lisa Smith

I became more active in my Union just as our world began to change with the current COVID-19 health and economic crisis. The burden is heavy but lightened by our strength in unity. What I have been most encouraged by is the attention and respect that is given when our issues are approached from the Union perspective rather than individuals attempting to tackle the system on our own. In unity, our voices are loud and clear. I am with my Union because my Union is with me. 

Lisa Smith
Individual Program Coordinator Occupational Chair
Porterville developmental Center

“Why am I choosing to stick with my Local during this crisis?” Victor Pacheco

During these times, one may ask themselves,

“Why am I choosing to stick with my Local during this crisis?”

Our board members were asked recently. Their answers will be shared on the front page and news feed this month.

In dealing with supervisors, managers, the state and bureaucracy in general, going up against them as an individual seems to be a David vs. Goliath proposition.  Having AFSCME behind me, my voice is stronger and better heard than just me. I’m bigger against the machine with AFSCME behind me.

I was on the call this afternoon to give a minute of testimony against the POC and DJJ closures.  I could not have done that without AFSCME as a citizen, but it’s through AFSCME that our lobbyist helped to facilitate an organized call with many POC clinicians.  Tomorrow, there’s a hearing on non-punitive terminations.  Again, as an individual, you can listen and provide your testimony to the legislators.  But you’d be unlikely to follow through.  We are stronger as an organization than as individuals.

Speaking (my) truth to power is a challenge and many psychologists I know fear retaliation for speaking up.  I don’t.  That may be because I have AFSCME behind me.  I’m a better state employee as a result of the union.

Victor Pacheco, Psy.D.
CMF Psychologist
State Psychologist Occupational Committee (SPOC) Chair

Fund POC

An administrative decision to place Behavioral Health Reintegration (BHR)/formerly Parole Outpatient Clinic (POC) is how this program within CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation(CDCR) was placed on the cutting board. Efforts by Local 2620 Steward and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Demetria Saunders along with Kim Carter-Martinez, Political and Legislative Director, have not gone unnoticed. The nonstop campaign to advocate against the defunding proposal has been supported by well over 40 clinicians and appears to be gaining attention.

There are close to 100 clinicians within the Behavioral Health Reintegration program. Their program within CDCR faces uncertainty as the members testify is hearings via teleconference with various members of the Budget Committee to express to them the importance of keeping their program funded.

A pivotal step is to speak with the governors office in order to educate and express professionally and respectfully the impact of the decision to defund the program.  Many decisions are suggested without a plan on how to address the windfall of failure for parolees and the vital resources this program provides. Impacted clinicians led by Demetria Saunders, are motivated and ready to keep this momentum moving in order to right this wrong.

How can you help? By using the information below, show your support without ceasing until the vote reflects a change in course for one of the most vital programs within CDCR.

Below you will find a list of the Assembly Budget Committee members names and numbers. I am requesting if you see YOUR perspective Assembly person on the list PLEASE call/email them and request a meeting. If they agree you can inform kim.cartermartinez@afscme57.org or demetira_hrhr@yahoo.com for scheduling support.

If you don’t see your Assembly person listed PLEASE still contact your Assembly person and you can also request a meeting.

Who we ALL need to contact by phone and email is the Governor’s office to request a meeting.

Assembly Budget Committee

Assembly-member Phil Ting 916-319-2019

Assembly-member Jay Obernolte 916-319-2019

Assembly-member Dr. Joaquin Arumbula 916-319-2033

Assembly-member Richard Bloom 916-319-2050

Assembly-member Bill Brough 916-319-2073

Assembly-member David Chiu 916-319-2017

Assembly-member Jim Cooper 916-319-2009

Assembly-member Vince Fong 916-319-2034

Assembly-member Jim Frazier 916-319-2011

Assembly-member James Gallagher 916-319-2003

Assembly-member Cristina Garcia 916-319-2058

Assembly-member Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. 916-319-2059

Assembly-member Kevin Kiley 916-319-2006

Assembly-member Tom Lackey 916-319-2036

Assembly-member Monique Limon 916-319-2037

Assembly-member Devon Mathis 916-319-2026

Assembly-member Kevin McCarty 916-309-2007

Assembly-member Jose Medina 916-319-2061

Assembly-member Kevin Mullin 916-319-2061

Assembly-member Al Muraysuchi 916-319-2066

Assembly-member Adrin Nazarian 916-319-2046

Assembly-member Patrick O’Donnell 916-319-2070

Assembly-member Jim Patterson 916-319-2023

Assembly-member James C Ramos 916-319-2040

Assembly-member Eloise Gomez Reyes 916-319-2047

Assembly-member Luz M. Rivas 916-319-2039

Assembly-member Blanca E. Rubio 916-319-2048

Assembly-member Mark Stone 916-319-2029

Assembly-member Shirley N. Weber 916-319-2079

Assembly-member Buffy Wicks 916-319-2015

Assembly-member Jim Wood 916-319-2002

http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators and districts/legislators/your_legislator.html

****Important****

Please call the Governor’s office and ask them to meet with us to discuss the CDCR cuts and why they will have disastrous outcomes. We have already sent a letter and also requested to meet. The number is 916-445-2841 AND send comment https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/.

POC/ISMIP/Phone Bank/Email Script

“Hello. My name is __________. I am a _______________ in the _____________program. I have worked for _______________for a total of _____________ years. I live in I am calling/writing to ask you to oppose the closure and moving to county control of the Parolee Outpatient Clinic, and the Integrated Services for Mentally Ill Parolee programs. These programs are vital to serving a population that desperately need resources, and help maneuvering life after prison. Please consider alternatives to closing these state-run programs. The outcomes could be dangerous or adverse effects. Thank you for your consideration.

DJJ/POC UPDATE & HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN MAY 21 HEARING

Current update regarding DJJ/POC discussion at the Capitol

5/19/2020

  • DJJ item 116 was bifurcated:
    • Approved the savings as budgeted, but the savings amount would be adjusted reflecting new points from the LAO
    • Held open the reduction of positions
  • POC held open
  • Trigger reductions held open

5/21/2020

Sub 5 Hearing Agendas

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR MAY 21 HEARING: Due to social distancing requirements, the hearing will include the use of video-conferencing technology to facilitate panelists and will have a moderated telephone line to assist with public participation at the hearing.  The hearing itself can be viewed remotely through the live stream on the Assembly’s website.

After both panels have concluded, and after the conclusion of member questions, the public may provide public comment by using the following toll-free number: 1-877-692-8957; Access Code: 283 438.

If you encounter technical problems with accessing the public comment phone line, please contact the Assembly Budget Committee at (916) 319-2099 and a staff member will assist you.

The public may also submit written testimony to:

BudgetSub5@asm.ca.gov

Link to subcommittee Assembly members:

https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/sub5publicsafety

Link to hearing:

https://www.assembly.ca.gov/todaysevents

Link to Agenda:

https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/sites/abgt.assembly.ca.gov/files/May%2021%20-%20Sub.%205%20May%20Revision%20Agenda.pdf

To soften the blow of state worker pay cuts, California might suspend $2,600 health deductions

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration could offer some relief from potential pay cuts for state workers by temporarily eliminating one of the paycheck deductions workers see each month, according to an Association of California State Supervisors web post.

Newsom this week proposed reducing state workers’ pay by 10 percent on Thursday in a budget that aims to reckon with a projected $54 billion deficit.

California Human Resources Department Director Eraina Ortega told the association the state could ease the pain a little by pausing workers’ monthly contributions toward the health benefits they receive in retirement, according to the post.

The association represents managers and others who aren’t part of the rank and file workforce. CalHR plans to link pay reductions for supervisors and managers to the pay reductions of their associated bargaining units, according to the post.

Most state employees pay roughly $2,600 per year toward the benefit, although the amount varies by salary and bargaining unit, according to a State Controller’s Office report. Public safety workers, who typically retire earlier than other employees, pay much more.

The deduction shows up as “CERBT” on state worker pay checks, which stands for California Employers’ Retiree Benefit Trust Fund.

It’s a fairly new deduction for most California state workers. California Highway Patrol officers began paying it in 2009.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown insisted that unions agree to the deduction in contracts his administration negotiated. The Professional Engineers in California Government accepted it in a 2015 agreement. Workers represented by other unions, including SEIU Local 1000, began paying the deduction in 2018.

Workers and their employers each pay the same amount toward the fund each month.

The retiree benefits are massively underfunded. At the end of fiscal year 2018, the state had about $874 million set aside for retiree health care benefits, and it had liabilities of about $85.6 billion for the benefits, according to the controllers’ report.

The supervisors’ association’s executive director and attorney spoke with Ortega and Deputy Director Paul Starkey Thursday morning, according to the post.

“This does not come near offsetting the proposed reduction in take home pay, but it is a helpful mitigating step,” the association said in its post.

CalHR declined to comment, saying it does not discuss confidential negotiations with bargaining units.

Newsom’s proposed pay cut will go through the collective bargaining process if possible, but the administration would seek authority from the state Legislature to reduce pay anyway in July if bargaining fails, according to Newsom’s proposal.

House Passes HEROES Act With Limits On Student Loan Relief – What’s Next?

The U.S. House of Representatives just passed the HEROES Act – a massive, $3 trillion stimulus bill. The bill is designed to provide broad financial relief to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state and local governments who have been hit hard by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate leadership has already declared the bill “dead on arrival,” and the President has promised to veto it.

Student Loan Relief Provided by the HEROES Act

House progressives had originally pushed for $30,000 in across-the-board student loan forgiveness. The released version of the bill reduced the forgiveness, but still provided meaningful student loan student relief, including the following:

  • $10,000 in federal student loan forgiveness;
  • $10,000 in private student loan forgiveness;
  • An extension of the CARES Act suspension of payments, interest, and collections on government-held federal student loans through September of 2021, and an expansion of those protections to include commercially-held FFEL-program federal student loans as well as Perkins loans.
  • A fix to Public Service Loan Forgiveness that would allow payments made on previously-consolidated federal student loans to potentially count towards the 120 qualifying monthly payments required for the program.

Link to full article HERE

Governor Newsom announces new May revised Budget for the State (and what it means for you)

Governor Newsom proposed a $138 billion general fund budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The proposed budget is subject to approval by the legislators on June 15, 2020. In addition to across the board proposed cuts the Governor proposed the following:
  • An approximate 10% reduction in compensation across the board, for all state workers, including management, to be effective July 1, 2020. The 10% reduction is subject to negotiations by each individual union. The Governor stated that this 10% reduction can be avoided if the federal government approves The Heroes Act. If the Heroes Act does not pass or is reduced significantly, then the 10% salary reduction may still happen. Per Governor Newsom, the 10% reduction in salary WILL take effect July 1, 2020
  • Parole Outpatient Clinic (POC) (CDCR) – This department employs mental health clinicians that provide treatment to parolees transitioning out of prison. Our members make up 90 clinicians at these offices. The May revision proposes to no longer fund the POC’s. This means the POC’s will close. This is subject to a meet and confer, which is a mini-bargaining session between the union and the state to discuss ways of mitigating the effects on the members of the intended action and agree on how this change will be implemented.
  • Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) (CDCR) – The Governor’s May Revise proposes to stop intake of juvenile offenders on Jan 1, 2021 and begin the process to close all three state juvenile facilities and the fire camp through the attrition of the current population. AFSCME Local 2620 will begin to meet and confer with the State to attempt to mitigate the effects on impacted clinicians.
  • Ongoing plan of closing two state-operated prisons within CDCR, over the next four years. This has been a developing plan since the population of inmates has decreased from 189,000 to approximately 122,000. The Governor did not identify the prisons. This means that one prison may potentially close in 2021-2022 and the second prison will close next following year. This too will be subject to a meet and confer.
Moving forward, the Negotiating team will advocate for what is right by you, the member!
What can you do to help:
Ensure your contact information is up to date: click here
Write your congress member:

Free Low Cost Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program

In response to the current economic and health uncertainty, AFSCME, for a limited time, is offering this normally low-cost benefit completely for free! All students who begin or continue their academic program with the Summer term are eligible for a last-dollar scholarship, which allows students to complete their degree (through graduation) with no out-of-pocket cost for tuition, fees, or e-books. So, don’t delay – enroll in the summer term today.

Click FREE Low Cost Bachelors degree for more info

We’re living through a tragedy of historic proportions.

Full article can be found HERE.

“The first two bills passed by Congress have been important initial steps. But we need to think bigger and act more boldly. The House and the Senate must move quickly to include robust general grant assistance to states and municipalities, so they can maintain services now and into the immediate future, when they are needed most.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT AFSCME EFFORTS

WRITE CONGRESS AND TELL THEM TO FUND THE FRONT LINES

Union Submits Economic Proposals to the State

The Negotiation team submitted a number of
key proposals to address economic concerns
of our membership. While we recognize that
this is contract negotiations and it requires
bargaining between both parties we moved
forward with a number of key economic
proposals. Some of the issues but not limited
to includes:

• A two year general salary increase
effective July 1, 2020 and again on
July 1, 2021
• Increase in night shift and weekend
shift differential
• Increase in bilingual pay
• Special Salary Adjustments for
identified classifications.
• A new longevity proposal to address
long term workers
• Health Benefits stipend
• Increase in CEU hours for certain
classifications

For the full report, click on the link Team report #2