Thanks to your ACSS, state excluded employees can breathe a little easier in the face of the massive realignment of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in response to the passing of Assembly Bill 109.

Upon learning that state supervisors, managers, and confidential employees in CDCR would be impacted by a statewide reorganization and layoffs, ACSS Senior Labor Relations Representative Nellie D. Lynn orchestrated an official meet and confer with CDCR and DPA Director Ron Yank in order to guarantee that state excluded employees would have their rights protected during the realignment process.

Among the most important concessions for excluded employees that your ACSS secured are:

• Noticing review by your ACSS
  • Your ACSS will receive notice of issues that may impact you 48 hours prior to general release in order to review for potential violations of your rights.
• Voluntary Transfer Process
  • Employees in impacted classifications within a county with an “overage” will have the chance to voluntarily transfer to another facility.
     
• Transfers will be awarded based on statewide seniority
  • Seniority will be based on total years in state service, including military service (if submitted prior to Sep. 2nd as required by CDCR)
• Expedited grievance process for matters involving realignment
• Improved communication for affected employees
  • CDCR will provide a 1-800 # for affected employees to call with any questions they may have. CDCR will work with your ACSS to improve communications and mitigate issues that have prevented affected employees from receiving timely answers to their questions from CDCR in the past.
• Voluntary relocation Per Diem and ATO time
  • Though the California Code of Regulations only covers reimbursements for involuntary relocation, your ACSS is working with DPA and CDCR to obtain Per Diem and ATO time for employees that voluntarily relocate more than 50 miles. We will provide additional details as this situation develops.

Longtime ACSS member and Supervisor of Vocational Instruction Gerald “Jerry” Fountain attended the meet and confer to provide his perspective and voice his concerns on how the realignment would affect his peers in CDCR.

Fountain remarked, “This certainly is a new DPA. It’s clear to see that ACSS’ dedication to forming a new working relationship with DPA is paying off.”

As always, your ACSS will continue to fight for the rights of supervisors, managers, and confidential employees in every aspect of state service—regardless of department or classification.

Not an ACSS member yet? You should be! ACSS is the largest, oldest, and most effective organization in the state working to improve the careers of state supervisors, managers, and confidential employees in every department. Find out why thousands of your peers choose to belong to ACSS: www.acssonline.org/join