After a week of contentious negotiations between Local 1000 and management, State Fund has announced that layoffs have been cancelled. 267 jobs were set to be cut at the end of May.

"We've told management all along that the cuts they wanted to make were too deep and would negatively impact the entire state," said Sophia Perkins, chair of Bargaining Unit 4. "Our message finally got through to them. Our lobbying efforts with State Fund Board members and legislators worked."

"They made some outrageous demands at the bargaining table, but we continued to push until we saved our members' jobs," said Brenda Modkins, chair of Bargaining Unit 1.

State Fund management will delay the department's layoff date from April 30 to May 30

"Obviously we're happy that management has extended the layoff date," said Brenda Modkins, chair of bargaining unit 1. "It gives impacted employees more time to look for new employment."

Modkins says she's especially appreciative of the hundreds of Local 1000 members who signed petitions or contacted State Fund Board members, telling them that the layoffs are happening too fast and too deep.  

Local 1000 is working hard to mitigate the remaining layoffs, despite the department's continued refusal to use all of its vacancies to alleviate layoffs and end outsourcing contracts. New bargaining dates are scheduled for March 26 and 27th.

"This is a complex layoff situation," said Sophia Perkins, chair of bargaining unit 4. "The extension will allow Local 1000 to more carefully monitor State Fund's procedures and make sure the remaining layoffs are in full compliance with our agreement."

Last December, State Fund proposed to lay off 1500-1800 employees. More than 900 employees took a Local 1000 negotiated transition package - the first time in state service that such an option was provided.  Hard work has reduced the layoff numbers to 356.

Teresa Hubbard stayed at SCIF to make a difference

Surplus letters are now available for State Fund employees who are scheduled to relocate in 2012. Employees impacted by the relocation can request a surplus letter from SCIF Human Resources.

Surplus letters give you priority hiring status. Unlike SROA status, you are not notified of vacancies by hiring agencies and must seek out job opportunities on your own.

Important dates for you to know:

May 15-31:
Time period to cash out 80 hours of accrued time if you're relocating more than 35 miles (Article 13).

June 1:
Deadline to choose an extended employment option (Article 9).

60 days prior to your move date:
Notice of your report-to-work date and options that may be available for you (Article 38).

To read the full agreement on the relocations between Local 1000 and State Fund management, click here >>

Send an email to State Fund board members demanding they re-evaluate SCIF's options, visit worksites to see how the work is done, and speak face-to-face with you.  

Sample email:

Dear Member of the Board of Directors: I am reaching out to you as a devoted State Fund employee and a witness to the severe changes that continue to take place at my worksite and across the state. State Fund set out to restructure its enterprise to achieve long-term goals of greater efficiency and competitiveness.  I understand that to survive State Fund must improve how it does business.  But reducing costs through staff reductions is not the same as improving business practices or achieving efficiencies. Sound decisions are not being made by State Fund executives and I need you to be more involved in the process. These are some of the problems I am witnessing: We have lost too many experienced workers and the loss of expertise is being felt at every office and in every program.  Layoffs will further deplete State Fund's skill set. State Fund will continue in a downward spiral if cuts in employment continue. State Fund's capacity for quality client services and timely product delivery has eroded since the completion of the Transition package. Customer service is flooded with delays. Employees who are on the layoff list haven't been provided with training to help them compete in a job market requiring fewer administrative support positions. Close to half the worksites are on overtime - in some cases it is mandatory. Vacations has frozen because programs cannot run without all remaining staff.  Missed payments and delayed processing has become a new standard.  The utilization review for many costly medical procedures has become a "stamp-and-approve" process. Critical functions like auditing, bill processing, claims management and investigations are being eliminated or outsourced to private vendors. Employees who remain after the layoffs, especially those in support and entry-level positions, aren't being given opportunities to train for SCIF jobs that require advanced skill sets. Increased overtime is being required of an already exhausted workforce barely able to keep up with a growing backlog of work. If layoffs continue as planned, we expect that the level of chaos will grow further. I urge you to travel to my worksite and see how the work is done. I'll even make sure arrangements are made for your visit. Contact Randall Cheek at 916.554.1232 and set up a visit. Thank you for your attention, patience and time.

State fund workers speak out against mismanagement

Local 1000 members at the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) are joining together across California to demand that SCIF board members examine staffing levels, outsourcing initiatives and executive bonuses as hundreds face layoffs as part of the agency's new business model.

Since last fall there have been a steady stream of workplace actions as members have pushed management to be more responsive. In December, members held a rally in San Francisco and spoke at a board meeting. In late January and early February, members held "Thumbs Down" rallies at workplaces throughout California.

On Feb. 16, dozens of Local 1000 members rallied at the State Fund offices in Pleasanton before traveling to the SCIF board meeting. At the meeting, Local 1000 reminded board members of our attempts to work together to find solutions that benefit all parties -- California's injured workers, Local 1000 members and management. However, recent board actions have brought that relationship into question.

Local 1000 members working for State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) united statewide, pushing SCIF board members to examine staffing levels, outsourcing initiatives and executive bonuses as hundreds face layoffs as part of the agency's new business model.

"I think executives want State Fund to fail so they can outsource our jobs," said Jeanne Brigman, worker's compensation claims adjuster, at the State Fund office in Riverside. "That's against the contract and it shows how mismanagement is hurting this agency."

SCIF releases faulty job loss numbers

Local 1000 is pressing the state to revise the State Compensation Insurance Fund's faulty layoff plan to account for nearly 1,000 workers who have already voluntarily left the department.

"We need accurate, timely information from SCIF management in order for Local 1000 to help our members make the best decisions for their families," said Margarita Maldonado, Local 1000 vice president for bargaining. "We want to ensure that services continue to be provided to California employers and injured workers."

State Fund's new business model: greater efficiencies or growing chaos?

A letter from Margarita Maldonado, vice president for bargaining:   

State Fund's new business strategy is that restructuring will result in a better position in the worker's compensation market. But if this was business school, State Fund would get an "F" in project planning.   

December 2010: SCIF announces a two-year relocation plan. Approximately 1600 employees are relocated by October 2011. Another 900 are scheduled to relocate in 2012. State Fund says "There will be a job for everyone who wants to relocate."

October 2011:  State Fund does a 100% flip-flop from "jobs" to layoffs and announces deep cuts of 25% of its work force.