CASE Testifies in Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation. Last week, Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 met to vote on and discuss budget proposals. CASE was present to testify in opposition to two budget proposals that would eliminate the telework stipend for state employees and permanently reduce state employee positions. At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee voted to approve these items, as was recommended by staff. The future outcome of these proposals, and ultimately whether they are included in the state budget, must be agreed upon by the Senate Pro Tempore, the Assembly Speaker, and the Governor.
CASE Awards Five Academic Scholarships. CASE recently awarded five $1,000 academic scholarships to members or their dependents. These awards honor applicants who are currently in a career, or plan to pursue a career, in government or another form of service supporting the common good, or applicants who can demonstrate meaningful commitment to serving others by participation in service-oriented academic pursuits, volunteer, or community service. This week, we highlight scholarship recipient, Aliza Young (pictured below).
CASE scholarship recipient Aliza Young is currently a student at Sacramento State, where she is pursuing a degree in health science. The health science program’s diverse set of classes has allowed her to explore the field and conclude that she is most interested in the areas of public health and policy. Ms. Young discovered these interests after taking a public policy course and after observing the public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. With only one semester remaining to complete her undergraduate degree, she has her sights set on her future goals, which include applying to graduate schools for a master’s degree in public health, and potentially working at the Department of Public Health in Sacramento.
2024 Special Salary Adjustments Take Effect. With the arrival of the new fiscal year on July 1, the maximum salary range of all Unit 2 classifications except Attorney level III classifications (see class codes identified in below) will increase by 4.5%. Employees who have been at the current maximum for 12 qualifying pay periods or more shall be moved to the new maximum of the range. All other employees shall retain their salary and salary anniversary dates.
Also effective July 1, the maximum salary range of the Attorney level III classifications (see classifications below) will increase by 10%:
· 5795 Attorney III
· 5706 Deputy Attorney General III
· 5789 Deputy Attorney III, Caltrans
· 6180 Industrial Relations Counsel III (Specialist)
· 5812 Public Utilities Counsel III, CPUC
· 5537 Real Estate Counsel III (specialist)
· 6274 Senior Board Counsel, ALRB
· 6115 Senior Fair Employment and Housing Counsel (Specialist)
· 6733 Tax Counsel III (Specialist)
· 5763 Deputy State Public Defender Range C (only)
· 6204 Sr. Commission Counsel (Specialist) FFPC
Employees who have been at the current maximum for 12 qualifying pay periods or more shall be moved to the new maximum of the range. All other employees shall retain their salary and salary anniversary dates.
We expect to see the increase reflected in the pay you receive for time worked in July, issuing on or about August 1. We will continue to monitor CalHR and the State Controller’s work to implement the raises through required pay letters.
Check Your Pay Stubs and Leave Balances. CASE encourages members to check
their pay stubs and leave balances each month to ensure accuracy of items such as the telework stipend, health insurance payments and that leave balances are up to date. If you find an issue with your pay stub or leave balance, please make an inquiry to your department’s Human Resource Office. If you are unable to resolve an issue, please reach out to CASE at info@calattorneys.org.
Professional Development Days – Use ‘Em or Lose ‘Em. CASE Members receive professional development days (PDD) each year. Unlike other types of leave that can rollover from year to year, your PDDs expire each fiscal year on June 30. You can check to see how much PDD time you have on the books by referring to the Leave Balances box inyour CalConnect Account. Unlike other leave balances which get lower with use, the“TRNG/DEV” line item that reflects PDD use counts up with usage. If the number in the far-right box is less than 40, then you have PDD time to use.
MOU Suggestion Box. While we are a year away from the next round of bargaining, it’s never too soon to collect ideas for future negotiations. You have access to our MOU Suggestion Box, a place for members – and ONLY members – to contribute ideas for new or improved benefits and MOU terms at any time. We are, of course, aware of the need for the Governor to address continuing salary lags (both within the unit and between state service and local government jobs), so we are hoping to collect your ideas on non-salary MOU items. To complete a suggestion card, click here. (pw: membersmatter22).
REMINDERS
Tracking Return-to-Office Mandates. Your feedback on the impact of return-to-office mandates is invaluable in helping CASE prepare to meet and confer with departments and agencies as well as preparing grievances and for arbitration as necessary. Consider sharing the impact of the proposed policy changes with us via this form.