SACRAMENTO – On Thursday, May 21, 2020, CSLEA and the State participated in a remote teleconference to begin the process of negotiating a side letter to address necessary reductions in Unit 7 members’ compensation should the State not secure the federal assistance which has been requested. Participating on behalf of CSLEA were President Alan Barcelona, Senior and Unit-C Vice President Tina Brazil, Unit-A Vice President Ken Ehrman, Unit-B Vice President Tom Ineichen and Attorneys Kasey Clark and Ryan Navarre. The State’s team included CalHR, Department of Finance and representatives from the Departments of Justice, State Hospitals and CHP. Some of the topics of discussion included the status of the request for federal relief (still pending), options to reach the approximate 10% reduction in employee compensation absent federal relief, suspension of the employee’s contribution to pre-fund retiree health care and other means of minimizing the impact to employees, and adjustments to reductions if federal relief is obtained or the State’s revenue experiences a significant improvement. The discussion generated a number of questions that CSLEA requested answers to before taking further steps on negotiating a formal side letter. “CSLEA understands we are in unprecedented times and there is a need for all of us to contribute our fair share for getting the State back on its feet” said President Barcelona. “However, CSLEA wants to make sure that all State employees and all bargaining units are treated equally and that Unit 7 employees suffer the least amount of impact as possible.”
Once CSLEA obtains responses to its questions, it will decide on the next step towards resolution.
