Administration Seeks to Achieve Targeted Cost Savings Through Collective Bargaining

On May 30, 2025, the CSLEA Negotiations Team Comprised of President Alan Barcelona, Unit Vice-Presidents Tina Brazil, Ken Ehrman and Tom Ineichen, Attorneys Kasey Clark and Ryan Navarre, and Consultant Peter Mitchell, met with representatives of CalHR and several State agencies to discuss the possibility of reopening the collective bargaining agreement currently scheduled to expire on July 1, 2026.  The Administration noted in the May Budget Revise that it seeks to achieve 766.6 million dollars in cost savings over a two-year budget period through postponed salary increases or legislatively-reduced compensation. 

During the meeting, the parties discussed the cost savings the Administration seeks to achieve as well as options to mitigate the impact of such concessions. CSLEA emphasized that all bargaining units must be held to the same standard in terms of concessions. 

The parties are scheduled to meet again on Friday, June 6, 2025, for further discussions with the understanding that it may not be possible to determine the alternatives that might be implemented by the administration and/or Legislature absent a side letter until the budget is adopted which is anticipated to occur by the June 15, 2025 deadline.

CSLEA will continue to update the membership as details become available.  Should a conceptual agreement be reached, the CSLEA Negotiations Team will seek approval of the Board of Directors authorizing entry into a formal side letter. CSLEA acknowledges and understands that the current situation may be causing anxiety for members and advises Unit 7 employees to refrain from speculating on what may ultimately be agreed to, and ignore non-credible rumors as to what may be occurring in bargaining.