SACRAMENTO – In one week’s time, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) negotiation team members met with directors and members of four CSLEA affiliate to discuss details of the recent contract negotiations with the state.
On Friday, July 19, 2019, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Chief Counsel Kasey Clark met with the California Association of Regulatory Investigators and Inspectors (CARII) Board of Directors at CSLEA Headquarters (and via Skype for those not in Sacramento).
On Wednesday, July 24, 2019, Clark and Senior Legal Counsel Ryan Navarre met with the Hospital Police Association of California (HPAC) Board of Directors at CSLEA Headquarters (Supervising Legal Counsel Dave De La Riva participated via conference call).
And on Thursday, July 25, 2019, Clark traveled to the Department of Insurance regional office in Benicia to meet with members of the California Association of Criminal Investigators (CACI) and California Association of Fraud Investigators (CAFI) affiliates. This meeting was arranged by CAFI President Bruce Todd and CACI Site Representative Jerry Flowers who was also in attendance, along with CACI President Dennis Maffei.
“Chief Counsel Clark of the CSLEA Negotiations Team gave an excellent detailed explanation of the hard work and time that went into achieving the Tentative Agreement (TA) with the state,” said Todd. “His presentation made it clear that the union fought hard for all its members and was successful in getting Special Salary Adjustments for about 83% of the BU-7 employees. He was also able to answer specific questions that helped clarify other specifics of the TA. The members expressed appreciation for this meeting.”
The meetings were helpful in explaining the process which gave rise to 83% of the bargaining unit represented by CSLEA receiving a Special Salary Adjustment and its impact on the amount that the State was willing to dedicate to General Salary Increases for the unit.
CSLEA legal staff emphasized that the SSA proposals were based on ongoing existing vacancy rate data of 20% or more in unfilled positions. There was also discussion about the State’s demand that GSIs in the 3rd and 4th year of the agreement be non-guaranteed, which was something that the CSLEA Negotiations Team was unwilling to agree to. The result is a reopener which guarantees the promised GSIs absent CSLEA’s agreement to something less. The attorneys emphasized that based on discussions both at the table, as well as with the administration off the table, this was as much money that the State was willing to allocate to the bargaining unit.
An independent analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office will be issued next week and the legislature will vote on a bill to authorize funding for the new agreement when it returns from its summer recess. CSLEA legal staff emphasized that the agreement is not an end to a number of ongoing pay, benefit and working condition issues that will continue to be addressed during the course of the agreement.
