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The Triennial event for ACSS Elections and Policy Changes
On January 10, 2018, Governor Brown released his proposed 2018-2019 State Budget. The proposal maintains a balanced budget for the foreseeable future under current projections and will also bring the Rainy Day Fund to $13.5 billion, the maximum level allowed under the State Constitution. Revenues for the current budget year are predicted to be $4.7 billion higher than previously estimated. While next fiscal year’s Budget is projected to have a healthy surplus, Brown noted the state will continue to face uncertain times, including the ramifications of the recently enacted federal tax bill and his reiterated warnings to plan for an inevitable recession. The Governor’s budget proposes $131.7 billion in General Fund expenditures, an increase of 4.1 percent over the 2017-2018 budget.
On January 18, 2018, CalHR released Pay Letter 18-03 which outlines Special Salary Adjustments (SSA) for some Managers and Supervisors of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and Employment Development Department (EDD). We reported on this issue earlier this month about how ACSS’ efforts helped alleviate salary compaction for some classifications at CDTFA. The SSA for these classifications are effective as of January 1, 2018.
Pay Letter 18-03 also includes Administrator-of-the-Day (AOD) Pay Differential 422 for excluded employees at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This Pay Differential affects the following classifications:
ACSS intends to advocate for Pay Differential compensation in a similar approach for excluded classifications at other departments who have AOD responsibilities. We plan on discussing this issue with CalHR in the near future.
CalHR informed ACSS of changes to the 457 Savings Plan and the 401(k) Savings Plan documents for Excluded Employees. Click below to view the updated documents.
Updated 2/8/18
ACSS worked with CalHR to identify changes to the plans. While most amendments are technical and routine in nature, there are some plan improvements. Employees returning to state service can now immediately resume participation in the Savings Plus program. The state has also increased options for spouses and other payees to elect Roth rollover conversions. The amendments include technical updates clarifying the state’s ability to collect overpayments. Of concern, the amendments allow the state to terminate the loan program. ACSS knows the loan program is popular with members, particularly in helping with down payments for homes. ACSS expressed concern over this change and were told that the state has no plans to end the loan program at this time. ACSS will advocate against an end to the loan program should one be proposed.
Members with questions about the Savings Plus program can reach out to the Savings Plus Service Center by e-mail, phone, or visiting the walk-in center in Sacramento. Click here for contact information.
Because of ACSS’ efforts, CalHR has approved the proposed Special Salary Adjustments for excluded employees of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). This SSA alleviates salary compaction for impacted classifications at CDTFA and is effective as of January 1, 2018. These are some of the classifications that ACSS identified that CalHR did not adhere to their own criteria to set and maintain a 5% pay differential. Click here to view a copy of the current and proposed salaries for these impacted classifications.
President Frank Ruffino comments on this latest win, “ACSS has been advocating tirelessly on behalf of CDTFA and we have been patiently waiting for results. This is great news for our members and all affected CDTFA excluded employees.”
An official pay letter from CalHR is coming soon and we will share it as soon as it is released.
CalHR first provided ACSS a draft of the plan in Spring 2017. Since then, ACSS has been meeting and dialoguing with CalHR regarding the proposed changes to IT Classifications. Large numbers of IT Excluded Employees responded to ACSS’ request for input; that feedback was beneficial to our discussions with CalHR. Many of the respondents expressed frustration that pay parity in the IT industry with both the public and private sectors was not addressed in the class series proposed by CalHR. ACSS addressed this issue with CalHR. CalHR’s position is that the Civil Service Improvement Project classification consolidations must be cost neutral. Therefore, CalHR stated they will use existing pay ranges. The State Personnel Board does not set excluded employee salaries. The authority to set excluded employee salaries is under the jurisdiction of CalHR.
ACSS will be closed on the following days to observe the 2017 holiday season:
A new policy may affect the careers of excluded state workers in several departments. CalHR notified ACSS that state workers who handle taxpayer information will undergo mandatory criminal background checks. If excluded employees do not pass the background check, they could be “non-punitively separated” from state service. These background check policies are intended to bring California in compliance with federal guidelines from the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Homeland Security. At the moment, it is unknown when this policy will be implemented.
ACSS has been receiving notices from individual departments regarding this issue and is reaching out to specific groups of excluded employees asking for feedback and concerns. Below is a list of the California departments that have notified ACSS of this policy change:
If you work for one of these departments and have questions or concerns about the background check policy, please contact your regional ACSS Labor Relations Representative.
ACSS is on your side and is fighting for your career. We are doing everything we can to prevent job loss over this issue. Please make sure your contact info is up to date so that we can provide you with the latest information as we receive it.
Click here to read additional information in the Sac Bee article.
In 2017, have you made any changes to your contact info? If so, use the easy Update My Info form on our website to update your information! With this form, you can update your:
Make sure we have your most current contact information so that we can provide up-to-date news and information to you.
ACSS continues to have ongoing discussions with CalHR in regards to salary compaction. ACSS inquired on the status of CalHR’s review and corrective action on the classifications that ACSS identified as not receiving a Special Salary Adjustment on July 1, 2017. We also inquired and discussed the status of CalHR's criteria to establish and maintain a 5% salary differential for impacted excluded classifications. ACSS is waiting for new information and will continue to provide updates.
ACSS also discussed the status of the Civil Service Improvement Class Consolidation issue, especially with regards to the IT Classifications. Unfortunately, submission to the State Personnel Board has again been delayed. However, the IT series of classifications is expected to be reviewed at the January SPB meeting. The Custodian series is expected to be reviewed in the February meeting. The Research Scientist series, the Energy Specialist series, and the Research Manager series are all pending and ACSS is waiting to hear new information on these classification consolidations.
It appears that as the year comes to an end, the momentum has slowed at CalHR. We encourage you to be patient with news of forward progress and to enjoy your time during the holiday season. Momentum will pick back up again with the New Year. Stay tuned as ACSS promises to deliver news to you as we receive it.
In September and October of 2017, ACSS held a six-week promotional membership drive to encourage supervisors and managers to join ACSS. Three excluded employees who submitted membership applications during the sweepstakes period were selected at random as winners.
Jessica Gomez won the grand prize $500 Amazon gift certificate and is a member of Chapter 503. Ms. Gomez is a Staff Services Manager at the Employment Development Department (EDD) in Sacramento. She joined ACSS because she recently got promoted and heard about the benefits of ACSS at her Supervisor/Manager training session.
Jessica Gomez (right) with ACSS Chapter 503 President Jim Teahan (left) at EDD in Sacramento.
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Joyce Lorta won a runner-up prize $250 Amazon gift certificate and is also a member of Chapter 503. Ms. Lorta is a Staff Information Systems Analyst Supervisor at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in Sacramento. She has been a supervisor for five years. She decided to join ACSS for the career representation services and for the member benefits. She is interested in making the most of her membership and saving money on home loans, travel, and group insurances.
Joyce Lorta at DMV in Sacramento.
Charlotte Chitadje Brinlee also won a runner-up prize $250 Amazon gift certificate and is a member of Chapter 505. Ms. Brinlee is a Program and Project Supervisor at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in San Francisco.
Charlotte Chitadje Brinlee (left) with ACSS Chapter 505 Board Member Michael Bonner (right) at PUC in San Francisco.
ACSS congratulates these three excluded employees on winning the 2016 ACSS Membership Drive Sweepstakes and welcomes them as new members of ACSS.
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