By CSLEA Chief Counsel Kasey Clark

SACRAMENTO - On May 19-20, 2016, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) and State negotiation teams worked beyond the close of business in an attempt to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement. Much of Thursday and Friday was spent on signing rollovers, which are provisions in the existing contract which will remain unchanged. The Legislature requires that each sub-article of the contract be separately TA'd (tentative agreement) by CSLEA and CalHR.

In addition to dealing with the rollovers, the parties were finally able to begin addressing some of the high cost items such as General Salary Increases (GSI), Special Salary Adjustments (SSA), and other differentials and allowances.  The CSLEA negotiations team (comprised of CSLEA President Alan Barcelona, CSLEA Sr. Vice-President and CHP-PSDA President Tina Brazil, CSLEA Vice-President and CARII President Tom Ineichin, CSLEA FOP Lodge 77 Secretary and CABCA President Kevin Highbaugh, CSLEA Chief Counsel Kasey Clark and CSLEA Sr. Legal Counsel Ryan Navarre) was pleased to see that the State had seriously considered and attempted to address recruitment and retention problems for a number of CSLEA-represented classifications by way of SSA's and Salary Range Adjustments. Unfortunately, despite working until late Friday evening, the parties have not yet been able to close the gap on a fair and equitable contract.

The next scheduled date of bargaining is June 8. However, the parties have agreed they will continue to have ongoing discussions away from the table and remain optimistic that a deal can be reached by the next scheduled date.