CASE Is Back At the Bargaining Table. The CASE Bargaining Committee is currently hard at work negotiating a successor Memorandum of Understanding to the current 2022-2025 MOU that expires as of June 30, 2025. CASE initiated bargaining last month, which is earlier than in any previous bargaining cycle. To date we have had attended 9 bargaining sessions that have been held mostly in person. The highest priorities for CASE are negotiating salaries and working conditions, especially telework, in light of the Governor’s recent mandate. Sound strategy and the rules that govern bargaining do not permit disclosing the details of negotiations while efforts are underway, however, CASE will continue to share what information it can, as it is able to without jeopardizing dissemination of its strategy or allegations that it has violated the rules.
Ample data exists that supports Unit 2’s salary lag behind comparable public sector jobs at the city, county, and federal levels and the financial and other benefits of telework are well established. The Bargaining Committee will leverage that data and utilize firsthand accounts of the value you provide to the State of California as part of its proposals. CASE knows that the legal professionals of Bargaining Unit 2 routinely win big for the state in terms of trial and appellate court victories, settlements reached, levied fines, and collected fees. In addition to these monetary wins, CASE members are dedicated to fighting to secure fundamental rights, affordable health care, and justice for all Californians. Through their dedication and work our members also assure workplace safety and compliance with labor and other laws, benefitting both California workers and employers.
The Bargaining Team, like the CASE Board of Directors is an all-volunteer team. By the time bargaining finishes, the bargaining team has typically spent hundreds of hours and conducted no less than 35 sessions over several months negotiating the contract. This year’s bargaining term is expected to be no different. It is critical that all members encourage their colleagues to join the fight and support the Bargaining Committee in its efforts to improve benefits and salaries for us all. An increase in our membership enrollment would serve as a critical showing of our members’ commitment and engagement in the outcome of the important terms under negotiation and the CASE Board appreciates members assisting with its efforts and extensive time commitments.
CASE’s Sponsored Legislation. This year, CASE has introduced a bill to address the lack of competitive compensation for state attorneys and ALJs in State Bargaining Unit 2. The bill, SB 605, is authored by Senator Dave Cortese, a Democrat representing Senate District 15. SB 605 (Cortese) seeks to ensure this competitive compensation is realized by aligning the salaries of state attorneys and ALJs in BU 2 with those of public sector attorneys across California, and would require CalHR to conduct an annual survey of salary structures and establish minimum salaries for attorneys and ALJs that meet regional and statewide averages. Implementation of the bill would be phased in over three fiscal years and is contingent upon a Budget appropriation.
The legislative process is just beginning for the 2025-26 session. As such, the bill is currently awaiting its first hearing in the Senate Labor, Public Employment & Retirement committee.
We will continue to keep you updated on the status of the bill as things progress.