ACSS News

ACSS establishes California Supervisors and Managers Advisory Council

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:57:00 GMT

Your ACSS is pleased to announce the official formation of the California Supervisors and Managers Advisory Council, a group dedicated to improving the careers of excluded employees statewide.

ACSS President Arlene Espinoza worked in conjunction with Assemblymember Joan Buchanan and DPA Director Ron Yank to establish the Council as a forum for ACSS and other excluded employee organizations to work together with DPA to develop and implement solutions to excluded employees issues.

The Council will meet quarterly to address the problems that supervisors and managers face on a daily basis: pay inequity, pension attacks, and generally implementing and running the State's public programs in light of budget cuts, hiring freezes, and layoffs.

Read more about the first meeting of the Council after the jump.

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The furlough fight - not quite finished

kglidden@calcsea.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:08:00 GMT

As you may have seen today, SEIU Local 1000 reached an agreement with the Brown Administration to settle lingering lawsuits challenging the furloughs imposed by former Governor Schwarzenegger on non-general fund agencies in 2009 and 2010.

The settlement affects only SEIU members in agencies that receive no appropriations from the state's General Fund, specifically:

First 5 California
Prison Industry Authority
California Earthquake Authority
California Housing Finance Agency
Office of Administrative Hearings

The affected employees will receive back pay, with interest, for the days they were forced to take off without pay.

Now that precedent has been established, your ACSS will be petitioning DPA to provide a similar adjustment for the eligible excluded employees in the non-general fund agencies.

UPDATE: Though the Sacramento Bee initially reported that the impacted employees would receive back pay with interest, the Bee has since corrected their story, indicating that the agreement will not include interest.

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ACSS @ EDD Hollywood Feb. 9

kglidden@calcsea.org — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:29:00 GMT

Your ACSS Labor Relations Team is stopping by for a
WORKSITE VISIT

Thursday, Feb. 9th
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
EDD
7116 Melrose Avenue, Room B
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Swing by your ACSS table during lunch time.

Labor Relations Representative Rocio Garcia-Reyes will be addressing current anti-state worker initiatives, pensions attacks, and much more.

Stop by to chat or ask any questions you may have about your career as a state supervisor, manager, or confidential employee.

Have a question now or just want to let us know you'll be stopping by?

Email us and let us know.

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UPDATE! CNN "financial makeover" eligibility expanded

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:27:00 GMT

CNN's Money Magazine is looking to feature an ACSS member who meets certain criteria in a "financial makeover" story in which they will work with a financial planner to overcome economic difficulties that have resulted from state budget cuts.

UPDATED CRITERIA! Members must meet the following criteria:

* Annual household income of at least $80k
* Currently employed as a state worker
* Between 40-69 years old
* Your financial plans have been negatively impacted by furloughs, pay cuts, the possibility of pension cuts, etc.
* You must be comfortable with your real name, photograph, and financial details being published

If you meet the above criteria, email ACSS at kglidden@calcsea.org with the subject "Financial Makeover", include your full name, age, household salary range, and describe in 100 words or less how state budget cuts have impacted your current or future financial outlook.

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Emails must be received no later than Thursday, February 2nd.

NOTE: Final selections of eligible members will be made by CNN Money.

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Court upholds citizens' redistricting

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:03:00 GMT

The California Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Friday to uphold the revised Senate districts drawn by an independent citizens commission for use in the June primary and November general election.

A Republican-backed initiative attempting to throw out the maps drafted by the non-partisan California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) is expected to qualify for the November ballot. Opponents of the public commission filed the lawsuit, arguing that the independently redrawn Senate map should not be used until the ballot measure challenge passed before voters.

Acting CCRC Chairman Peter Yao - a registered L.A. County Republican - called the high court's decision to uphold the redrawn districts "a great victory for the people of California."

Read more on the participatory democratic efforts of the CCRC: http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/

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ACSS stands up for safety at DMH

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:27:00 GMT

The Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS) met with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) on Friday, January 13, 2012, to discuss the Department's transition plan to become the Department of State Hospitals (DSH).

ACSS continues to raises concerns over the impact of decreasing staff ratios on the safety of patients and staff. DMH stated that the changes will enhance safety of both staff and patients because staff is being redirected back to the units. However, ACSS believes simply showing on paper that added staff will be assigned to the units will not necessarily result in greater safety.

Read more about the work we're doing for excluded employees at DMH after the jump.

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Do you trust a risky market for your state pension?

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:53:00 GMT

Attacks on your earned pension are heating up.

At a public hearing this week, opponents of the "hybrid" pension shift proposed by Governor Brown primarily highlighted the volatile, risky nature of defined contribution schemes.

"The 401k experiment hasn't worked," said SEIU spokesperson Terry Brennand. "Look at your own 401k? Are you ready to retire?"

Read more and watch KGO-TV's story on the hearing after the jump.

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DMH layoffs - ACSS fighting for your rights

kglidden@calcsea.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:36:00 GMT

The Association of California State Supervisors (ACSS) met with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) on Friday, January 13, 2012, to discuss the Department's transition plan to become the Department of State Hospitals (DSH).

DMH stated that the Department is initiating layoffs; specifically DMH will be submitting a proposed layoff plan to DPA with in the next 30 days. The layoff plan includes the elimination of those excluded employee positions already identified in the cost savings measures provided to ACSS. DMH stated that there are vacancies currently at Coalinga State Hospital and Salinas Valley Psychiatric Program, which may be filled by voluntary transfer to help mitigate layoffs.

Read more about what ACSS is doing to preserve excluded employee rights at DMH after the jump.

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ACSS suggests efficiency before cuts at DMH

kglidden@calcsea.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:36:00 GMT

Prior to the meeting, DMH provided a list of cost savings measures that the Department would be implementing to address the fact that the Department is operating above their allocated budget. DMH was very clear that the DMH budget has not been cut, but that they must address the operational deficit.

During the meeting ACSS provided a viable efficiency measure to reduce cost: Specifically, reevaluating housing of patients based on patients' needs to allow for staff and resources to be allocated more efficiently. Read more after the jump.

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Get your free ACSS shirt!

kglidden@calcsea.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:50:00 GMT

Need an official ACSS shirt for Lobby Day?

Register now for our upcoming Lobby Day and we'll purchase one for you if you need it.

You must be a current ACSS member to register.

Get registered now!
www.ACSSonline.org/LobbyDay

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ACSS News

ACSS establishes California Supervisors and Managers Advisory Council

The furlough fight - not quite finished

ACSS @ EDD Hollywood Feb. 9

Your ACSS Labor Relations Team is stopping by for a WORKSITE VISIT

Thursday, Feb. 9th 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. EDD 7116 Melrose Avenue, Room B Los Angeles, CA 90046

UPDATE! CNN "financial makeover" eligibility expanded

Court upholds citizens' redistricting

ACSS stands up for safety at DMH

Do you trust a risky market for your state pension?

DMH layoffs - ACSS fighting for your rights

ACSS suggests efficiency before cuts at DMH

Get your free ACSS shirt!

Your ACSS Labor Relations Team is stopping by for a
WORKSITE VISIT

Thursday, Feb. 9th
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
EDD
7116 Melrose Avenue, Room B
Los Angeles, CA 90046