Didn't we just do this?
With contracts covering tens of thousands of state employees set to expire this summer, the Department of Personnel Administration has scheduled meetings in February and March so that the government and four unions can publicly release their initial bargaining proposals.
Agreements with the International Union of Operating Engineers (Unit 12), the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (Unit 16), the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (Unit 18) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (Unit 19) expire July 1. The four groups represent roughly 24,000 state workers.
California's collective bargaining law requires the government and employee unions to publicly disclose their opening proposals, although at this early stage high-level labor and state officials talk in generalities and then later negotiate the particulars at the bargaining table. The public can comment during the meetings.
The first so-called "sunshine meeting" is set for 1 p.m., Feb. 23, in Conference Room A/B at DPA's headquarters, 1515 S St. in Sacramento. Two other meetings are scheduled for the same time and location on March 8 and March 22.
Less than a year ago, Gov. Jerry Brown and the last six of 21 bargaining units reached agreements after working for years without negotiated deals. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association, which had been without a contract for nearly five years, was the last group to come to terms. It's contract took effect May 16 and expires July 2, 2013.
This link has more details about the upcoming meetings.
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