AMCOS Members,

I would like to address some of the frustration that some of our valued AMCOS members have recently expressed about salaries, benefits and just overall respect from our employer for the jobs we do. 

While you may not see firsthand all that AMCOS and CSLEA do for their members, your union is working every day behind the scenes to protect your rights, strengthen your voice, and preserve the wages, benefits, and working conditions that matter most to us.  

There are many obstacles in this fight, including the State’s budget and the administration. Your union is always up to the task. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that in the last round of negotiations, CSLEA obtained a 7% increase to the maximum salary for MCS’s, added a longevity benefit that pays 2-5% of salary, and the PLP resulted in a net increase in pay due to the suspension of the OPEB contribution which will be phased in after the side letter expires next year.

All of the work our union does in its steadfast commitment to protecting our rights, benefits, and professional interests takes a team of devoted labor attorneys, strong advocacy, legislative action, and member support.

Every bargaining cycle, our union leaders face an employer whose responsibility is to control costs. The goal of our employer is to spend as little as possible. Our union’s goal is exactly the opposite, to improve our wages, protect our benefits, preserve our pensions, and defend the rights that generations of public employees fought to secure.

Just as importantly as increasing salaries, our union continues the fight to keep our benefits from being reduced or eliminated. Some of the union’s greatest victories are the concessions that never happened because they were stopped before they reached our contracts. Members may never see every proposal rejected, every concession resisted, or every hour spent preparing for negotiations, but that work is real, and it matters.

In addition to bargaining, CSLEA works daily on the political front to pursue our goals. Political advocacy is an important part of protecting our professions and securing our future. CSLEA works to elect to office people who value the work that we do for California and for public safety.  With like-minded people in office, our voices are heard. 

On another front, CSLEA is also expanding its public affairs efforts to educate policymakers and the public about the critical work performed by our members. One example is our current collaboration with Capitol Weekly, which is considering a report highlighting the important responsibilities of Motor Carrier Specialists and School Bus Coordinators. As part of that effort, detailed salary comparison data and comprehensive analyses comparing our classifications with equivalent positions throughout the commercial transportation industry have been provided to demonstrate the significant disparity between our responsibilities and our compensation. These efforts are designed to raise awareness, build understanding, and strengthen the case for meaningful improvements.

Your union membership gives AMCOS and CSLEA the resources and strength it uses to fight on your behalf.  Every member who remains committed to the union strengthens our bargaining position. Every member who leaves makes it easier for the employer to argue that our concerns are not shared.

That doesn’t mean members shouldn’t ask hard questions. In fact, they should. Strong unions are built on transparency, accountability, and engaged members. Hold your elected representatives accountable. Attend meetings. Ask questions. Volunteer. Run for office. Be part of shaping the future of our organization. But don’t confuse disagreement with abandonment.

We all want greater recognition. We all believe our professions deserve more respect than they often receive. The answer is not to weaken the organization that stands beside us. The answer is to strengthen it.

The stronger our membership, the stronger our voice. The stronger our voice, the greater our influence. Not only at the bargaining table, but in the halls of the Capitol and in the public conversation about the essential work we perform every day. Stay engaged. Stay informed. Stay united. Because when one member stands alone, the employer sees one voice. When thousands stand together, they cannot be ignored.

Cesar Bustos

President

AMCOS