NEWS

CalPERS: The State’s Pension Contribution Rate Increases by Approximately 6 Percent

Posted: 4/16/2015

CalPERS released a statement on 4/14/15 that announced state funding (from the employer) towards pensions increased by approximately 6 percent. This rate is up from the 2014-15 fiscal year, but less than originally projected. The state employee’s contributions are rising due to the demographic of public employees living longer, implementation of new smoothing policies, and because payroll of state employees covered under CalPERS has increased by 7 percent over last year. The state’s contribution towards pensions is estimated to increase by $487 million from $4.2 billion to $4.7 billion in the next fiscal year. Currently, the state pension plan is approximately 72 percent funded. Full state valuation rates for the next five years will be available this summer. Click here to read more details about state actuarial valuation and employer contribution rates, provided by CalPERS Finance & Administration Committee.

According to Richard Costigan, Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee of CalPERS, “Pension plans require stable funding, and the new rates incorporate the Board’s actions over the last several years that will reduce rate volatility in the long term.”

As always, ACSS is monitoring and keeping a close watch on this issue. We are ensuring that the state does not pass additional pension contributions onto employees, like what has been proposed for healthcare in the 2015-15 State Budget. We will continue to keep you informed as this issue unfolds.

Click here to read the CalPERS news release.

Q2 2015 Newsletter is now online! Feature: Prefunding Retiree Healthcare

Posted: 4/15/2015

The Q2 2015 Newsletter is now online! This issue features Another Attack on Employee Compensation: Prefunding Retiree Healthcare. Check it out now!

ACSS Elections are around the corner!

Posted: 4/10/2015

ACSS Elections are coming up! All candidates have been nominated and voting ballots will be sent soon. Look out for them in your mailbox and make sure to cast your vote! Here is a timeline of important dates for the Elections:

• April 20 - Voting ballots sent to members via mail
• May 20 @ 5pm - Deadline for voting ballots to be received by ACSS HQ
• June 2 - General notification to all members about Elections results
• July 17 - 19 - ACSS Delegate Assembly
• October 10 - 11 - CSEA General Council

For more information on ACSS elections, visit the Elections page on the ACSS website.

In addition, if you wish to run for the position of ACSS Board of Directors at Delegate Assembly, we are now accepting Candidate Consent Forms and Candidate Statements. 

Meet your new Chapter 502 & 503 Labor Relations Representative

Posted: 4/3/2015

Wendy M. Looney joined ACSS’s staff in March 2015 to represent the members of the Sacramento area in Chapter 503 and the northern and eastern California counties of Chapter 502. A skilled lawyer since 2008, Wendy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the ACSS LRR team specializing in plaintiff law, handling employment discrimination and advocating for victims rights. She recently moved to California from Mississippi and is an avid cyclist and outdoor enthusiast. If you are in need of representation in the workplace or have a difficult job-related issue, contact Wendy at (916) 326-4302 or email wlooney@acss.org.

ACSS Needs You! Become a Chapter Leader for Chapter 502, 509 or 512.

Posted: 3/20/2015

Have you ever wanted to be more involved with ACSS? Do you have ideas on how to improve your regional Chapter and the ACSS organization as a whole? Do you want to actively participate in governing the way ACSS manages business affairs and policies? 

Now is your chance to let your voice be heard! Utilize your talents to help make ACSS better.  ACSS is in the process of re-electing Chapter officers and delegates for a new three-year term. Chapters that have vacant positions open are:

• Chapter 502 (Alpine, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba counties) needs the following positions filled:
     - Vice President
     - Secretary/Treasurer
     - Delegates
  
• Chapter 509 (Fresno, Kern, King, Madera and Tulare counties) needs the following positions filled:
     - Delegates
  
• Chapter 512 (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties) needs the following positions filled:
     - President
     - Vice President
     - Secretary/Treasurer
     - Delegates
  

If you are interested in nominating yourself for one of these positions, download the Candidate Consent Form and fax or e-mail it to ACSS Headquarters. ACSS MUST receive your Candidate Consent Form before 5pm on Wednesday March 25th!

For more detailed descriptions on these positions and additional ACSS election information, visit the ACSS Elections webpage.

Stand up and be the voice of your Chapter! 

ACSS Walks for Senate Candidate Joan Buchanan

Posted: 3/18/2015

From left, Nicholas Mraovich, Frank Ruffino, Senate Candidate Joan Buchanan, Reynold Roth, Joaquin Murphy and Michael Bonner.

On March 14th, under the leadership of Frank Ruffino, VP of Governmental Affairs, a team including ACSS PAC Chair Reynold Roth and member activists Joaquin Murphy, Michael Bonner and Nicholas Mraovich attended Joan Buchanan's "Get Out the Vote" Rally in San Ramon and then walked precincts to deliver lawn signs in Livermore. At the end of the day Buchanan thanked ACSS for our work on her behalf. Buchanan has been a long-time supporter of ACSS's issues.

On March 17, 2015, the special election for Senate District 7 took place. Unfortunately after the votes were counted, she placed 3rd (with 22.6%) behind Susan Bonilla (24.9%) and Steve Glazer (32.8%). Bonilla and Glazer advance as the top two candidates and will appear on the ballot in the November General Election. ACSS is proud to have supported Buchanan in her tireless efforts on behalf of our members over the past years.

Frank Ruffino and Reynold Roth delivering lawn signs in support of Buchanan.

ACSS Thanks Members for Attending Another Successful Lobby Day!

Posted: 3/13/2015

ACSS members with Senator Dr. Richard Pan (SD 06).

To all members who attended Lobby Day this week, ACSS thanks you for your participation! Cheers to another successful Lobby Day event where California state supervisors and managers met with legislators to urge the resolution of compaction and discuss concerns on prefunding retiree healthcare.  With record-high attendance this year, your 109 voices were heard and your presence at the Capitol was prevalent, helping spread further awareness of ACSS.  Lobby Day is ACSS's largest and most impactful event of the year.  If you missed Lobby Day this year, make sure you mark your calendar to attend next year's event in March 2016. 

ACSS Executive Officers, VP of Membership Todd D'Braunstein, Vice President Elnora Fretwell, Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (AD 63), President Arlene Espinoza, and VP of Governmental Affairs Frank Ruffino at Lobby Day Training.

From left, Senator Jim Beall (SD 15) with ACSS members President Arlene Espinoza, VP of Governmental Affairs Frank Ruffino, Secretary/Treasurer Pam Robison, Reynold Roth, Bill Homsany, Brad Geldert (Chapter 507).

From left, Diane Parker-Harris, Dionne Faulk, Deborah Anderson, Assemblymember Chris Holden (AD 41), Maria Bauer, VP of Membership Todd D'Braunstein, Sal Rizzo (Chapter 511).

CalHR Issues Memo on Premium Reduction on Long Term Disability Insurance

Posted: 3/12/2015

CalHR's Benefits Division released Memo 2015-008 for Personnel Management Liaisons. Effective April 1, 2015, there will be a premium rate reduction for participants in the Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance program for excluded employees. In addition, open enrollment will be held from April 1 through April 30, 2015.  This memo provides information on the eligibility criteria, effective dates of coverage, new premium rates, and the various communication methods that will be used to provide open enrollment information to eligible employees.

Click here to download Memo 2015-008 for more information.

ACSS Attends Republican Convention

Posted: 3/10/2015

From left ACSS VP of Membership Todd D'Braunstein, ACSS President Arlene Espinoza, Assembly Republican Leader Kristen Olsen, ACSS Vice President Elnora Fretwell, and ACSS VP of Governmental Affairs Frank Ruffino.

On February 27, 28 and March 1, 2015, ACSS leaders greeted Republican Legislators from around the State including Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, the Assembly's new Republican Leader Kristen Olsen (pictured above) and Senate Candidate Sharon Runner (pictured below).

"We enjoyed meeting moderate and diverse candidates who understand ACSS plight," said Frank Ruffino, ACSS VP of Governmental Affairs.

From left ACSS VP of Membership Todd D'Braunstein, Senate Candidate Sharon Runner, ACSS VP of Governmental Affairs Frank Ruffino, and ACSS Vice President Elnora Fretwell.

ACSS Vice President Elnora Fretwell

CDCR Quarterly Meeting will focus on Compaction and Workplace Issues

Posted: 3/6/2015

ACSS meets on a regular basis with CDCR. Our next meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2015. At this meeting, we will be continuing discussions about salary compaction, focusing on the Office of Correctional Education excluded employee classifications. The supervisors in the Office of Correctional Education have been hit especially hard by compaction with up to a -13% gap between them and the rank and file employees they supervise. CDCR has been making strides to come to a possible solution and they are in the process of developing a recommendation to CalHR to resolve this issue. ACSS is working with CDCR to provide input in developing the recommendation to CalHR. ACSS will also continue its efforts with CalHR to advocate for action to correct salary compaction faced by our members.

In addition, ACSS has been working closely with CDCR members to evaluate several workplace issues. Recently, we created an online survey to assess the needs of a group of CDCR employees going through issues with “Administrative Officer of the Day” duties. Selected groups of members were invited to take this survey in hopes that ACSS could zero in on the most important issues at hand to tackle. The feedback we gain from the survey will be very helpful towards our efforts to ensure fairness and harmony in the workplace.

Other items to be discussed at this meeting are the upward mobility of Correctional Food Managers and Meal Ticket equity for excluded employees. These issues have specifically been raised by members, and ACSS is assisting to negotiate resolutions. If you are experiencing issues at your workplace, contact ACSS and we will listen to your needs, advise you, and attempt to resolve the issue with your department or employer. ACSS is on your side when it comes to dealing with difficult workplace issues.