Chapter 513: ACSS Director-at-Large Frank Ruffino’s chapter invited all four CSEA affiliates to its October meeting in San Diego to meet with three San Diego-area Assembly members. It was Ruffino’s vision “to prove a point that the affiliates can work together even though we have diverse interests.” All three legislators, Marty Block, Manuel Perez and Anthony Portantino, emphasized they are committed to helping state workers, Ruffino said. "They were impressed by our unity and our commitment to good government," he said.

Ruffino chatted with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass at a later political function. Ruffino said Bass showed genuine concern for our needs and would like to meet with ACSS members. “She was really listening to us,” he said.

ACSS and the other affiliates supported all four Assembly members in the November election. “I suspect we’re going to have a good relationship with them,” Ruffino said.

Chapters 507 and 512: Nine activists from these chapters, along with ACSS Labor Rep Tom Considine, attended Sen. Abel Maldonado’s quarterly state managers’ luncheon in Monterey on Dec. 8. Parks and Recreation officials gave the members a walking tour of Monterey’s historic district, and the group had lunch on the patio of the landmark Pacific Building. Maldonado gave the group a candid assessment of the state budget crisis and took their questions and suggestions before heading back to Sacramento for an emergency legislative session. He promised to be mindful of the fact that excluded employees are the most vulnerable when reductions to state employees’ compensation are being contemplated, Considine said.

“The senator and his staff have always been exceptionally thoughtful toward ACSS members when they draw up the invitation list to these events,” Considine said. “We are always well-represented.”