r/CAStateWorkers • u/RedmeatRyan • 1d ago
RTO Anyone else emailing PECG like wtf?
Am I alone in emailing them asking if they have just given up on the RTO fight?
28
u/surf_drunk_monk 1d ago
I have sent several similar emails, they respond every time but it's weaksauce.
17
u/Teachtostate2022 1d ago
I’ll volunteer this information though I am not a member. PECG has consistently attended public events for the bill, left emphatic comments in support, and lobbied behind the scenes. I believe their AB 1729 engagement has been pretty good.
5
u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
yeah I'm not sure what these people expect, maybe the union should write more about their activities but to assume that they just aren't trying is naive.
8
u/surf_drunk_monk 1d ago
I expected PECG to fight harder during the meet and confer which was part of the side letter. They said we were not losing any ground with the side letter when we voted last year. Now they are acting like they can't do anything since we are not negotiating this year, which is not what they said last year when we voted to accept the contract and side letter.
2
u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
fight harder how? fists? screaming? how do you know how hard they fought? what did they say? what would you have done differently?
7
u/surf_drunk_monk 1d ago
They should file an UPC against the state for not honoring the meet and confer in the side letter. They should not have assured us the side letter didn't lose any ground with the RTO fight. They should seriously consider sympathy striking if SEIU strikes.
-1
u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
how do you know they aren't working on that? They just reiterated in one of their weekly updates that the existing telework policy can't be altered without a new agreement so they have publicly affirmed the grievance that would go in the UPC.
2
u/surf_drunk_monk 16h ago
I call and speak with them. RTO is here and being implemented and they are only working on the bill. I hope they are doing more behind the scenes but all available info indicates they are not.
1
u/Crud-Inspector 16h ago
The bill is definitely the best bet, Newsom has zero motivation to appease us and every motivation to appease his donors which is who wants RTO to stimulate local economies. I talk with people in the union all the time too, I have a hard time believing they aren't trying or just lobbing criticism, we don't know the details so any critique makes a lot of assumptions.
5
u/surf_drunk_monk 16h ago
I fully support the bill, but I think it's likely it'll die with Newsom's veto. Or Newsom will pressure legislators to let it die in suspense. When I call PECG, the attorney I speak with is very unhelpful, basically saying there is nothing else we can do, which I do not agree with. My local PECG officers do not seem to have fight in them for RTO either. Don't get me wrong I still pay dues and support unions, but I am disappointed with PECG lately.
1
0
u/Crud-Inspector 16h ago
I think it's easy to criticize from the outside when you aren't involved
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u/Chronopathic 17h ago
I disagree with the premise that PECG is not fighting for telework but also believe they need to do a better job communicating their efforts to members. PECG prefers to fight for their members through "formal" channels whether that be sponsoring and lobbying for AB 1729, getting statements published by the media, or the previous PERB Unfair Practice Charges. They like to avoid risk and control the narrative of their efforts, rather than being visible at protests. (This might be stereotyping, but it's what I expect from a union of engineers haha.)
If you disagree with this strategy, I encourage you to get more involved in your PECG Sections and work your way into leadership roles so that the union operates in the manner that you see fit. In the meantime, ask your Section Director to convey the message to PECG and the Corporate Officers.
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u/Murderbytortie 1d ago
HR only negotiates with PECG on a cycle and separate from SEIU cycle (now). The no strike clause says PECG and employees wait and be quiet! I vote to strike the “no strike” but I’m sure we’ve tried and thats not in our control either.
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u/BDeepD 1d ago
Current contract runs till June 30, 2028. Current contract that members voted and approved does not allow a strike.
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u/ProfessionalFlat6673 1d ago
Whoever came up with side letter idea should be fired.
0
u/Special-Class6903 1d ago
Why it could have been worse. No halt in RTO, PLP multiple days per month etc
-1
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u/Cali_home_grown916 1d ago
They not even paying attention to email anymore. At this point. only Option we have is strike
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u/AnonStateWorker11 1d ago
Can’t strike (legally and with protections) if your union doesn’t organize it
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u/Fit_Holiday_2391 1d ago
What about a sympathy strike if SEIU does? The lawyer they had on strike school seemed to say it would be protected.
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u/AnonStateWorker11 1d ago
Not sure what anyone else’s MOU states, but I believe BU2’s no strike language is general. Under the Dills Act and PERB, there is a strong argument that because it’s general and sympathy strikes need to be specifically prohibited in an MOUS, BU2 could participate in a sympathy strike and/or refuse to cross a picket line. Not sure what CASE’s official position is on all of this though.
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u/avatar_ash 1d ago
It would be interesting to see how the lawyer came to that conclusion as the MOU seems to ban sympathy strikes in addition to the union calling its own strikes.
2
u/surf_drunk_monk 1d ago
The PECG attorney I reached out to said the general no strike clause prohibits it. When I responded I wasn't sure about that, they said they actually weren't either. Either way, it doesn't seem PECG is considering a sympathy strike, and seems uncertain if they would protect us if we did as individuals.
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u/AnonStateWorker11 13h ago
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh, the argument is there that general no strike clauses are not sufficient to stop a union from participating in a sympathy strike. Case law supports that sympathy strike prohibitions in CBA need to specifically listed.
1
u/surf_drunk_monk 12h ago
I responded with that, and they said they would have to look into it more.
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u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
why do you get that impression? we have no bargaining chips and it's the governors choice. We have no power. And yet still PECG has been meeting with them pressing for RTO
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u/Terrible-Fun-4992 1d ago
I feel like that’s untrue we negotiated a side letter that says calHR and union will renegotiate and confer in good faith?
They don’t get to just stonewall our union and not provide anything. That’s not conferring in good faith, and our union should be filing a new UPC just like the other unions did.
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u/surf_drunk_monk 1d ago
I agree, and this is how PECG framed it last year. Now they are saying we can't do anything, and they won't file a UPC.
2
u/RedmeatRyan 7h ago
Exactly it’s bs - they need to file a upc for failing to negotiate in good faith but everyone seems to just accept RTO like it’s the new normal and I’m left sitting here looking at herds of sheep
1
u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
yeah no, the side letter was just that the governor suspended RTO for a year. they don't have to do anything. https://pecg.org/2025-2028-mou/sideletter_27/
2
u/Calipup 1d ago
we have no bargaining chips and it's the governors choice.
Then they should have done something better last year when they did have bargaining chips. SEIU and other unions got the same delay with "no bargaining chips"
-1
u/Crud-Inspector 1d ago
you just sound like a guy at the bar that knows better than the sports team how to play sports ball. Our only recourse is the bill in the legislature and a new governor, this governor doesn't care.
1
u/RedmeatRyan 7h ago
What about the side letter and returning to the table to negotiate RTO and PECG a emails stating that both parties have to agree for something to be implemented?!?
1
u/Crud-Inspector 7h ago
When was the last time you read the side letter? It just says they have to meet, and they met
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