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ACSS in Review
A periodic report from
ACSS President Arlene Espinoza
Jan. 16: Happy New Year!
The Jan. 16 and 17 board meeting will be momentous. The ACSS board has some exciting decisions to make. We have the opportunity to move forward with the ACSS Strategic Business Plan – what we have named “Blueprint to Change.”
The board will also determine a legal strategy to respond to the governor and DPA's continual abuse of excluded employees’ wages and working conditions.
Once again, state employees are being told by the governor to bear an unfair share of the burden for the state's budget crisis. My husband likes to call this “the State Employee Tax.” Maybe we should find a new use for the phrase “No Taxation Without Representation”?
What is the governors intent here – to revert California to a feudal system? We certainly are becoming a state of the “haves” versus the “have nots.”
We need to respond to the governor's Jan. 8 letter to state employees. It was less than truthful of the governor not to disclose in this letter that the state employees’ pay cuts are more likely to be 10 percent. He never mentions that if California fails to receive a federal bailout (according to the paper it's not likely), this budget has a trigger to increase the pay cut from 5 percent to 10 percent. He also fails to mention that he views the pay cut(s) as permanent!
State employees have dire budget concerns of their own. It is time for the governor and legislators to find real solutions. Why does the governor continually offer big business tax breaks? Then he makes drastic cuts (the governor called the cuts “draconian”) to the very people he expects to keep this state running and to the citizens of California that need our assistance the most.
I want to ask each of you to write the governor a letter. Tell him we have had enough.Tell him we have shouldered more of the burden than is right. Make sure to send a copy of your letter to the legislative leaders, your own legislators and ACSS, too. We may be able to use some of your letters on the ACSS Web site to tie a real person to the impact these harsh cuts have on state employees. If you prefer, send an email or fax. Whatever form of delivery you use, we must do something to let the governor and Legislature know what impact these demands have on us, our families and our communities.
ACSS, along with 13 other labor organizations, has sent a support letter to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and then-Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. This letter requests their immediate approval of a continuous appropriation bill AB 1125 for state employees. Simply put, this bill would prevent the state from paying state employees minimum wage should there be another budget stalemate. How many times in recent history do you remember the budget being signed on time? Not many, I'm sure.
I want to say thank to the amazing members of ACSS. Without your support, ACSS would not be moving forward and growing. Thank you, too, to the officers, board members, and activists for giving their time and talents to make sure ACSS members have a voice. We will keep you informed of any major developments.
With respect and in solidarity,
Arlene Espinoza
ACSS President
ACSS in Review
A periodic report from
ACSS President Arlene Espinoza
Jan. 16: Happy New Year!
The Jan. 16 and 17 board meeting will be momentous. The ACSS board has some exciting decisions to make. We have the opportunity to move forward with the ACSS Strategic Business Plan – what we have named “Blueprint to Change.”
The board will also determine a legal strategy to respond to the governor and DPA's continual abuse of excluded employees’ wages and working conditions.
Once again, state employees are being told by the governor to bear an unfair share of the burden for the state's budget crisis. My husband likes to call this “the State Employee Tax.” Maybe we should find a new use for the phrase “No Taxation Without Representation”?
What is the governors intent here – to revert California to a feudal system? We certainly are becoming a state of the “haves” versus the “have nots.”
We need to respond to the governor's Jan. 8 letter to state employees. It was less than truthful of the governor not to disclose in this letter that the state employees’ pay cuts are more likely to be 10 percent. He never mentions that if California fails to receive a federal bailout (according to the paper it's not likely), this budget has a trigger to increase the pay cut from 5 percent to 10 percent. He also fails to mention that he views the pay cut(s) as permanent!
State employees have dire budget concerns of their own. It is time for the governor and legislators to find real solutions. Why does the governor continually offer big business tax breaks? Then he makes drastic cuts (the governor called the cuts “draconian”) to the very people he expects to keep this state running and to the citizens of California that need our assistance the most.
I want to ask each of you to write the governor a letter. Tell him we have had enough.Tell him we have shouldered more of the burden than is right. Make sure to send a copy of your letter to the legislative leaders, your own legislators and ACSS, too. We may be able to use some of your letters on the ACSS Web site to tie a real person to the impact these harsh cuts have on state employees. If you prefer, send an email or fax. Whatever form of delivery you use, we must do something to let the governor and Legislature know what impact these demands have on us, our families and our communities.
ACSS, along with 13 other labor organizations, has sent a support letter to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and then-Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. This letter requests their immediate approval of a continuous appropriation bill AB 1125 for state employees. Simply put, this bill would prevent the state from paying state employees minimum wage should there be another budget stalemate. How many times in recent history do you remember the budget being signed on time? Not many, I'm sure.
I want to say thank to the amazing members of ACSS. Without your support, ACSS would not be moving forward and growing. Thank you, too, to the officers, board members, and activists for giving their time and talents to make sure ACSS members have a voice. We will keep you informed of any major developments.
With respect and in solidarity,
Arlene Espinoza
ACSS President
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The Association of California State Supervisors
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The Association of California State Supervisors is the largest and most experienced organization in California representing the state's managers, supervisors, exempt and confidential employees.
Our mission is to help you do your job better ... and to make your job better for you.
Here are some of our services for our members:
- Legislative advocacy and political action -- ACSS sponsors and supports legislation to improve pay, benefits, pension and working conditions for all excluded employees. We oppose legislation that would adversely impact their careers and families.
- Professional job representation -- Our professional labor specialists give advice to hundreds of state managers, supervisors and confidential employees each year ... and we represent many of them in adverse actions, grievances, rights issues and other formal appeals before the various state administrative agencies. Our win rate is outstanding. Our labor specialists are always available to counsel members, explain complicated law and suggest a positive course of action.
- Networking -- Members of ACSS become part of a network of state managers, supervisors and other professionals who provide support, resources, camaraderie and career contacts through chapter and board meetings, Lobby Days, and other formal and social events.
- Retirement -- ACSS works closely with CalPERS, the Legislature and the CSEA Retired Division to maintain and improve the state retirement system.
- Communication tools -- Our publications, including our quarterly magazine, Today's Supervisor, plus newsletters, brochures and our Web site, provide information, techniques and advice to help members on their jobs.
- Free $10,000 death benefit – Each member receives a free $10,000 death benefit policy.
- Low-cost insurance and other discounts -- ACSS members are eligible to participate in discount group auto and homeowner insurance plans, as well as a variety of buying programs. Members also get discounts on travel, entertainment, car rentals, life insurance, auto parts, home supplies and more.
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