Go back to the SPSE Home Page
http://www.spse.org/
In our current uncertain employment climate, LLNL management has moved to make sweeping changes in policies that vitally affect the rights and interests of Lab employees. The employees have had little opportunity to shape these changes. Not long ago, management violated state law when it adopted changes in the term appointment policies without even soliciting employee comment. Recently, they have completely revised the layoff policy, making changes that take away rights from every LLNL scientist and engineer.
Employees need not stand helpless while their rights are taken away. California law empowers University (UC) employees to join together and negotiate with their employer about policies affecting working conditions and salaries. The selection of representatives to conduct such negotiations is done through an election conducted by the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).
In order to call such an election, an organization must secure authorizations from 30% of the employees in the group of employees they seek to represent. Appropriate employee groups (called units) are defined by PERB. Most of UC is already divided into units. In 1983, PERB ruled that the LLNL scientists and engineers (200 and 300 series job classes) constitute a unit.
If a majority of employees voting in an election vote to have an organization represent them in policy negotiations, the organization becomes the representative for all employees in the unit. The organization is then called the "exclusive representative." Management is required by law to negotiate in good faith with the exclusive representative. Then, policies affecting working conditions and salaries cannot be changed without negotiations. The in good faith requirement has legal force; management cannot simply engage in pro-forma negotiations; there must be honest give and take, and the sides must endeavor to reach agreement. There are mediation procedures in case of impasse.
Your signature on the authorization card is the first step toward empowerment. The card will be used by SPSE to call for an election. In the election, LLNL scientists and engineers will have the choice of electing SPSE (a democratic organization open to all LLNL scientists and engineers) as an exclusive representative, or of continuing to have LLNL management be the sole representative of their interests.
The wording on the card or similar wording is required by PERB regulations. Signing the card does not make you a member of any organization; it does not obligate you to pay dues to any organization. The card will be used only for the purpose of calling for an election. Further, if an election is held and SPSE is selected as exclusive representative, even then membership and paying of dues are not obligatory. Law provides that membership in any organization representing employees and paying of dues or service fees to such an organization is voluntary.
Go back to the SPSE Home Page
http://www.spse.org/