CSH employee brutally assaulted during hospital lockdown due to inadequate staffing and safety protocols

Sacramento - Feb. 14, 2018  - The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians:

State-employed psychiatric technicians will hold an informational picket Friday, Feb. 16 outside Coalinga State Hospital to demonstrate the immediate need for increased staffing and workplace safety.

On Jan. 12, The Department of State Hospitals (DSH) implemented an emergency regulation banning electronic devices with storage, communication and internet capabilities from the patient population, most of whom are sexually violent predators. The new regulation caused a disturbance among the patient population that threatened the safety and security of other patients, staff, and the facility, resulting in a facility-wide lockdown. Although staffing was increased on the a.m. and p.m. shifts, staffing on the NOC shifts remained unchanged. The event augmented safety concerns already present in a facility where short staffing practices on NOC shifts endanger the safety and well-being of patients and psychiatric technicians, who are the direct level-of-care staff. Download Media Advisory. 

BARGAINING UNIT
18 MEMBER(S)
CURRENTLY IN NEED OF
C.L. DONATIONS

Mimi Mahdi, PT - FDC

Want to find out how many donations you’ve received? Contact your facility’s personnel department. Download flier

ATTENTION BU 18 MEMBERS

THE EMPLOYEES OF DSH-COALINGA DEMAND A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT!

SAFETY RALLY

When: Friday Feb. 16th
Where: DSH-C
Time: 0630 - 1630

Now is the time to declare our commitment to one another!  We need to take action and make our voices are heard. We need to do it now! Stand up with us and be counted.

Look around our workplace today. There is a good chance that you are working with someone who has been a victim of a work-related injury, possibly the result of a physical or verbal attack from a patient.

Look at the world through their eyes. Could they be experiencing fear? Perhaps they are afraid of not getting well again, of not being able to provide for their families or loved ones, or of working in an unsafe environment. Workers compensation may not cover the psychological and physical damage visible as a result of an injury. This staff member could be you!

Now think, are these injuries happening because the staff is being pushed to work in an unsafe environment, leaving our members vulnerable to an attack? Does working in a forensic environment mean we agree to be the casualties in a facility that has lost sight of implementing adequate safeguards, allowing injuries to occur? We think not! Download flier.

If you’re planning to run for a CAPT Chapter office, don’t miss these important deadlines!

ELIGIBILITY TO RUN

To run for office, you must have been a CAPT member and completed job steward training by January 1, 2018.

CANDIDATE  FILING  DEADLINE

March 10 is the deadline for filing a declaration of candidacy with CAPT Headquarters. If filed by mail, it must be postmarked by March 10. We recommend that it be mailed by “certified mail, return receipt requested.” If filed by FAX, it must be received at CAPT Headquarters by March 10. A declara- tion must be signed by the candidate for it to be considered valid. (Declarations must also include your address and phone number - for CAPT use only.) Download flier.

The retention stipends promised to DDS employees subject to layoffs due to facility closures, have not been paid. The stipends employees earned as of December 2017 were to be paid in January 2018. Porterville Chapter President Katherine Ramirez notified CAPT headquarters upon realizing that members’ January pay did not reflect the stipend. Employees were to earn $250 for every quarter worked during the fiscal year 2016-17, and effective July 1, 2017, a $500 incentive for every full quarter worked. Download flier.

Goal is to reduce MOT and increase morale

The newly comprised CAPT and CDCR/CCHCS joint Labor/Management Committee has met three times to review the current staffing model against alternative models that, if implemented, would reduce mandatory overtime and improve staff morale. As stated in our contract under overtime 5.1 (t), the goal of the committee is to reduce and, to the extent possible, eliminate mandatory overtime by July 2018. The CAPT representatives on the committee are State President Eric Soto, Southern Corrections Chapter President Marilyn Hayes, Northern Corrections Chapter President Kim Souza, Stockton Chapter President Jamila O’Neal, Consultant Ann Lyles and Consultant and Attorney Sean Bedrosian. Download flier.

CAPT supports Newsom for Gov and Becerra for AG

For the first time in CAPT’s 30-year history, candidates for state governor and attorney general interviewed with our Board of Directors vying for a CAPT endorsement. The unprecedented interviews were largely the result of CAPT’s recent decision to stand for workers’ rights by increasing its political action and participation in the political arena. The interviews took place Jan. 17 at CAPT headquarters in Sacramento. After spending the day vetting each candidate on the issues affecting California state-employed Psychiatric Technicians, the CAPT Board of Directors voted to support and endorse Gavin Newsom for California State Governor and Xavier Becerra for California State Attorney General. BU 18 is the first state bargaining unit to endorse a candidate for state governor. Download flier. 

CORRECTION: The Eligibility to Run deadline for being a CAPT member and having completed steward training is not January 1, 2017, but rather January 1, 2018. Download corrected flier.

The November/December 2017 Outreach is available online. Download here.

Among other reported problems, CAPT has learned that the California Department of Public Health is backlogged by five weeks in processing Certified Nursing Assistant certificate renewals. If you wait until the last minute to process your application and error with your application is found, your certificate will likely lapse, and you will not be able to report to work. To avoid a separation, it is critical that all PTAs expedite their renewal requirements and process their CNA renewal applications correctly and as soon as possible. Download flier.

Don’t forget the following deadlines!

CAPT will be holding elections soon for chapter officers in all 12 of its chapters.

Eligibility to Run

To run for office, you must have been a CAPT member and completed job steward training on or before January 1, 2017.
Candidate Filing Deadline

Candidate Filing Deadline

March 10 is the deadline for filing a declaration of candidacy with CAPT Headquarters. If filed by mail, it must be postmarked by March 10. We recommend that it be mailed by “certified mail, return receipt requested.” If filed by FAX, it must be received at CAPT Headquarters by 5 p.m., March 10. A declaration must be signed by the candidate for it to be considered valid. Declarations must also include your address and phone number to be valid (for CAPT use only). Download flier.

Various chapters throughout the BU 18 have informed CAPT that some members have experienced nonpayment for contractual pay increases relative to our salary and shift differential increases, as well as proper OBEB deductions and reimbursements. Our 2016-19 contractual salary and benefit adjustments are outlined below. If you feel you have not received the correct payment or reimbursement in any of the economic adjustments listed below, contact your chapter president and be prepared to present paystub documentation demonstrating the discrepancy. Pay discrepancies can be identified by comparing your paystub allocations from December 2016 through the present. Upon establishing a discrepancy, CAPT will work with the State Controller’s Office to have the pay discrepancies corrected. Download flier.

BARGAINING UNIT 18 MEMBER(S) CURRENTLY IN NEED OF C.L. DONATIONS

Migterry Solinap, PT - PDC

Want to find out how many donations you’ve received? Contact your facility’s personnel department.

CAPT got the concept of Catastrophic Leave off the ground two decades ago; the program’s been in our state Bargaining Unit 18 contract since 1989. Dowload flier.

Do you know a portion of your union dues or fees is tax deductible?

Federal law requires CAPT to give you a written estimate of how much of your membership dues or fair share fees go to the organization’s lobbying and political expenses.

The majority of the dues or fees you pay is allowable as an “employee business expense” deduction under your federal income tax. And your state tax is linked to the federal tax.

However, the part of your dues or fees that CAPT uses for political contributions and lobbying on behalf of Psych Techs is not tax-deductible. Download flier.

In accordance with our contract under 9.4 (g) Staffing, CAPT is meeting quarterly with representatives from the Department of State Hospitals Labor Relations for our newly comprised Joint Labor/Management Committee. With the understanding that mandatory overtime is not an effective staffing tool, the goal of the joint committee, as stated in our contract under Overtime, 5.1 (t), is to reduce and, to the extent possible, eliminate mandatory overtime by July 2018. Download flier. 

All legislation begins with an idea or concept: “There ought to be a law!” Ideas and concepts can come from a variety of sources, including professional organizations like CAPT. If you have a great idea that you would like considered in CAPT’s 2018-19 legislative agenda, contact your local chapter office or CAPT Consultant Coby Pizzotti at
1 (800) 677-2278 or coby@psychtechs.net. Download flier.

The September/October Outreach is available online. Download here.

PT Scheduling Survey--CDCR/CCHCS

Respondents needed!

Survey expires Nov. 10: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSVQXLT

CAPT met Oct. 18 with CCHCS representatives from headquarters Labor Relations and Nursing for our first quarterly meeting of the newly comprised Joint Labor/Management Committee. Present at the meeting were CAPT representatives Marilyn Hayes, Southern Corrections Chapter president, Kim Souza, Northern Corrections Chapter president, and Ann Lyles, consultant and chief contract negotiator. Download flier.

BU 18 members who plan to run for office in 2018 must take note of CAPT's candidacy eligibility requirements and deadlines. To be eligible to run for and hold a CAPT chapter office, you must be a BU 18 member in good standing and have completed steward training on or before January 1, 2018. Download flier.

In Memory of Donna Kay Gross
Born March 30, 1956
San Jose, California
Died October 23, 2010
Napa, California

Join us today in solidarity for a moment of silence and prayer to honor the life and legacy of our fallen sister, Donna Kay Gross.

Today marked the seven-year anniversary of the death of Donna, mother, grandmother and dedicated Napa State Hospital Psychiatric Technician. On October 23, 2010, Donna was brutally attacked and killed by patient Jess Massey on the NSH grounds. Massey murdered Donna as she was returning to her unit to work another shift. Donna, 54, died by asphyxiation. Pleading no contest, her assailant is serving 25 years to life at California State Prison, Corcoran.

Donna’s living legacy brought significant improvements to state hospital safety and security. Even with these needed improvements, we must never grow complacent. CAPT urges everyone to remain vigilant for safety. Report and document all safety concerns, including understaffing. All cases of assault and injury must also be reported.

Download flier.

Salary advances to be issued at Dixon Fairgrounds

Due to the Sonoma County fires and the evacuation of the Sonoma Development Center, the direct deposits of SDC staff paychecks were not able to be processed, as processing occurs onsite. However, SDC will issue salary advances to the affected staff at the Dixon Fairgrounds located at 655 S 1st St, Dixon, CA 95620. Staff accepting a salary advance will be asked to sign a form promising to reimburse the Department of Developmental Centers for the advance amount within ten calendar days of the issuance of their direct deposit pay. CAPT encourages members to sign the form as it will ensure the continuance of your direct deposit without having to re-enroll.

Chapter meetings scheduled

At the Sept. 28 annual meeting, your CAPT delegates voted to defend workers and unions from an ever-present anti-union, anti-worker movement that is seeking to strip away our rights as workers by weakening their unions. To fight back, the delegates voted unanimously to create a temporary assessment of $6.50 per member per month to strengthen CAPT’s political action fund. The assessment will empower CAPT with needed resources to fight anti-union campaigns and legal actions against workers’ rights. The temporary assessment will begin on January 1, 2018, and end on December 31, 2020.

Download Flier | Download Member Letter 

‘Out of Darkness’

Join thousands of people in this nationwide event benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP has set a goal of reducing suicide 20 percent by 2025. Suicide claims nearly 40,000 American lives each year. CAPT is grateful to give its support.

Coverage of CAPT’s participation will be included in the Nov/Dec Outreach. Download flier.

Walk to Fight Suicide - Fresno

‘Out of Darkness’

Join thousands of people in this nationwide event benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP has set a goal of reducing suicide 20 percent by 2025. Suicide claims nearly 40,000 American lives each year. CAPT is grateful to give its support. 

Coverage of CAPT’s participation will be included in the Nov/Dec Outreach. Download flier.

SDC to process 2018 vacation bids facility wide

The Sonoma Development Center will conduct the 2018 vacation bid facility-wide, including off-site positions. Because new language in Article 6.2, Vacation Leave, requires a separate calendar for BU 18 members and other provisions, SDC management felt it was necessary to open the vacation bid facility-wide. As the client population declines and residences continue to close, SDC decided one vacation calendar would be sufficient and more efficient to administer. Download flier.

In anticipation of implementing, beginning fall 2017, an automated staffing system (KRONOS), Canyon Springs will be changing from a 5-2 cycle schedule to a 6-2 cycle schedule. The anticipated date of implementation is Nov. 1. The change was necessary because KRONOS cannot adapt itself to the current 5-2 cycle schedule. Download flier.

‘Out of Darkness’

Join thousands of people in this nationwide event benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP has set a goal of reducing suicide 20 percent by 2025. Suicide claims nearly 40,000 American lives each year. CAPT is grateful to give its support.

Coverage of CAPT’s participation will be included in the Nov/Dec Outreach. Download flier.

‘Out of Darkness’

Join thousands of people in this nationwide event benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP has set a goal of reducing suicide 20 percent by 2025. Suicide claims nearly 40,000 American lives each year. CAPT is grateful to give its support. 

Coverage of CAPT’s participation will be included in the Nov/Dec Outreach. Download flier.

The Fairview Development Center will conduct the 2018 vacation bid by program for ICF and NF residences. The STAR program and CPS will bid on separate calendars for each area. As required by Article 6.2, Vacation Leave, the calendars will be posted on October 1. Bidding will begin October 15 and will be conducted as a walk-up bid by seniority. Employees off work for extended leave will be mailed their appointment times. Download flier.

June Martin, NCYC, was recently added to the list of members in need of Catastrophic Leave donations. 

CAPT got the concept of Catastrophic Leave off the ground two decades ago; the program’s been in our state Bargaining Unit 18 contract since 1989. Download flier.

The BVNPT discontinued issuing pocket cards to its licensees, effective September 15, 2017. Employers, licensees and consumers can verify real-time license status by visiting the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ BreEZe License Verification System at:

https://www.breeze.ca.gov/datamart/loginCADCA.do 

Download flier.

The Atascadero, Coalinga and Metropolitan State Hospitals have elected to change the vacation bidding process under the ASSIST to a facility-wide model. All off-unit assignments are unaffected by the facility-wide model and will continue to bid as normal. Napa and Patton State Hospitals will maintain its vacation bidding on the program-based calendars. Download Flier.

CAPT recently reminded BU 18 members of the new 1.3 percent OPEB deduction, which appeared for the first time on our September 1 pay stubs. The deductions represent our first contribution to help fund our retiree healthcare benefits. Download flier.

CAPT has received several inquiries concerning the new deduction appearing on our September 1 pay stubs. Please be reminded, that this deduction represents our first contribution to help fund our retiree healthcare benefits. The 1.3 percent deduction from our PERSable income will go into a CalPERS’ administered, federally protected BU 18 trust to pre-fund our retirement health care benefits. Download flier.

CAPT got the concept of Catastrophic Leave off the ground two decades ago; the program’s been in our state Bargaining Unit 18 contract since 1989.

Article 6.9 of the CAPT contract gives state-employed Psych Techs and related professionals the right to request leave donations from coworkers in cases of financial hardship due to injury or the prolonged illness of the state Bargaining Unit 18 member or his or her family member, or for parental or adoption leave purposes. Download flier.

Vacation calendar to be delayed 8 days

Per our contract, the following year’s vacation calendar is to be posted each year on October 1. This year, however, the posting of the 2018 vacation calendar will be delayed by eight days due to needed upgrades on the ASSIST. The program enhancements were required to bring the ASSIST into compliance with new contract language. Consequently, the ASSIST will not be ready by the Oct. 1 deadline. The expected time line is as follows: Download flier.

Your Fairview Chapter representatives responded quickly to resolve a potential contract violation involving our Ad Hoc vacation bidding and our RDOs (Regular Days Off). FDC management was planning to post an Ad Hoc vacation calendar that had removed for bidding purposes our RDOs, thus limiting the number of vacations days available. Download flier.

The CAPT Atascadero Chapter is happy to report its recent win on a grievance filed at the department level over its last Post and Bid, in which hospital management failed to post all vacant positions for bidding purposes.

The issue began in late June after chapter representatives met twice with hospital management to discuss the status of the Post and Bid and to review the vacant positions. At this time, CAPT agreed to delay the Post and Bid for June 30. Unfortunately, management failed to meet the deadline, and CAPT responded by filing a contract grievance under Post and Bid at Article 9.2 (B), Posted Positions and (D.2), Award and Assignment, which state in part: Download flier.

Your CAPT representatives at the Metro Chapter know that our jobs can be extremely dangerous. The safety of our members has always been a top priority for CAPT, which is why CAPT fought hard for new language in our contract (Article 10.12) that REQUIRES the state to report ALL cases of patient assault/battery on an employee to the prosecuting authorities. Reporting should be done regardless of whether or not the employee involved wishes to press charges. Download flier.

CAPT representatives at the Porterville Chapter have recently learned that investigators from the Office of Protective Services are asking BU 18 employees to submit to a polygraph examination, otherwise known as a lie detector test, during investigative interviews. When CAPT questioned the legitimacy of this practice, investigators responded saying that they were only “asking” employees to take the examination and that it was up to each individual whether or not they wanted to comply. Download flier.

Attention BU 18 in CDCR/CCHCS
Know your mandate rights!

Facts about Mandates

Overtime must be offered to BU 18 level-of-care employees before allowing other classifications to work. Employees mandated to work in excess of one hour are to be rotated to the bottom of the mandate list, which is to be posted within four hours of the start of each shift. Mandates of less than two hours won’t count toward contract limits. Download flier.

Video Surveillance confined to public areas and common non-private areas

Your Porterville Chapter representatives want all BU 18 employees to be aware that the facility’s security surveillance cameras located in the Secure Treatment Program Units are transmitting recorded video footage for observation by the Office of Protective Services. The targeted areas for the video surveillance include public areas and non-private common areas. The PDC promotes the Safety Video Observation and Recording System as an effective means to ensure the safety and security of PDC clients, employees and staff. The recorded media will support OPS patrols. Download flier.

Catastrophic Leave

Helping one another through Catastrophic Leave Donations

BARGAINING UNIT 18 MEMBER(S)
CURRENTLY IN NEED OF 
C.L. DONATIONS:

Miguel Cortez, PT - PDC
Michael Segura, PTA - PDC
Alisha Alexander, PT - NSH

CAPT got the concept of Catastrophic Leave off the ground two decades ago; the program’s been in our state Bargaining Unit 18 contract since 1989. Download Flier.

The July/August 2017 Outreach is available. Download here.

For the 2017 Annual Meeting ~ September 26-28, 2017 at the BAHIA RESORT HOTEL

CAPT holds an Annual Meeting each September for the transaction of the Association’s general business, which includes, but is not limited to, developing new language and amending the current language of the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws, and Operating Policies. The meeting also offers an opportunity for participants to meet and network with members from other chapters and with CAPT staff. Download flier.

Catastrophic Leave

Helping one another through Catastrophic Leave Donations

BARGAINING UNIT 18 MEMBER(S)
CURRENTLY IN NEED OF 
C.L. DONATIONS:

Alisha Alexander, PT-NSH

CAPT got the concept of Catastrophic Leave off the ground two decades ago; the program’s been in our state Bargaining Unit 18 contract since 1989.

Article 6.9 of the CAPT contract gives state-employed Psych Techs and related professionals the right to request leave donations from coworkers in cases of financial hardship due to injury or the prolonged illness of the state Bargaining Unit 18 member or his or her family member, or for parental or adoption leave purposes. Download flier.

In the last Outreach, CAPT informed Psychiatric Technician Assistants seeking renewal for their Certified Nursing Assistant certificate to make sure their online continuing education provider is approved by the California Department of Public Health, as the Department was denying certificate renewals of PTAs who had not completed their education requirements from CDPH-approved CE providers. Download flier.

CAPT received notice that the Human Resources Director at the Sonoma Developmental Center had notified SDC staff that, due to a departmental merge, the July 1 salary increases may not be reflected in their July paychecks, which will issue on August 1. CAPT Consultant Carol Wiesmann immediately contacted the State Controller’s Office to ask if the departmental merge only affected the processing of our members’ paychecks working in the Department of Developmental Services or all those within the BU 18, including those working in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of State Hospitals, especially those members affected by the recent Lift and Shift, which directed the release and transfer of three DSH mental health facilities to CDCR. Download flier.

The Department of Developmental Services has recently announced the implementation of a Department Restriction of Appointment Process (DROA), effective July 20, 2017. DROA notices should arrive in mailboxes this week. Psych Techs affected by the facility closures at Sonoma, Fairview and the General Treatment Area at Porterville will be given a hiring preference when seeking employment at DDS areas not designated for closure. These areas include the Canyon Springs Community Facility and the Secured Treatment Program at the Porterville Development Center. Download flier.

Sacramento – June 30, 2017 – The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT), a union of state-employed psychiatric nurses, strongly condemns the death threats made against Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon for temporarily shelving the “Healthy Care Act” or “Universal Health Care for California” bill also known as SB 562. Download press release.

By a recent judicial order, Psych Techs, along with Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses, working at a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Adult Institution, are to carry and administer intranasal naloxone to inmate/patients who are experiencing depression of respiratory function due to an opioid overdose. Download flier. 

Our first round of incremental improvements bargained into our 
2016-19 contract agreement with the State of California become effective July 1, 2017. These improvements include a salary increase and a drop in our mandatory overtime limits. Download flier.

Licensure Examination Development

The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (Board) and the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) are recruiting licensed psychiatric technicians (PTs) to assist with the development of the California Psychiatric Technician Licensure Examination. Download Flier

–State promises ‘seamless transition’–

On June 21, CAPT met with state representatives from the California Department of Human Resources, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Correctional Healthcare Services, and the Department of State Hospitals to further discuss how the impending ‘Lift and Shift’ will affect our members working at the three DSH facilities within CDCR prisons. Representing CAPT at the table were Stockton Chapter Treasurer Toni King and Secretary Brenda Street, Northern Corrections Chapter President Kim Souza, CAPT State President Eric Soto and CAPT consultants Ann Lyles, Sean Bedrosian, attorney, and Cobi Pizzotti. Download flier.

The May/June 2017 Outreach is available online. Download here.

On June 8, the Legislative Budget Conference Committee heard the issue of the transfer to CDCR the Department of State Hospital programs operated inside of prison facilities. The conference committee voted unanimously to approve the proposal as outlined in the Governor’s January Budget and added budget bill language ordering CDCR to engage stakeholders during the transition process and report back the progress of the transition to legislative budget committees in the spring of 2018. Download flier.

Edgar Lopez, PT, SCP-Sac, was recently added to CAPT's list of BU 18 members in need of Catastrophic Leave donations. To donate, please download the flier.

Don’t let this opportunity slip by! Final reminder.

Deadline for CAPT's 2017 Anthony Myers 2017 Scholarship Program is Fast Approaching

CAPT is still accepting applications for the 13th round of scholarships it plans to award to students enrolled in Psych Tech education programs.

For applications to be considered, they must be postmarked no later than July 14, 2017. The scholarship winners will be announced at CAPT’s 33rd Annual Meeting, scheduled in late September. Download flier.

Pressured by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the State Legislature, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians has decided to rescind its massive continuing education audit. Initiated late last year, the audit, which sought the CE records of over 52,000 licensees within a four-week period, drew much criticism for being unrealistic for all practical purposes. The BVNPT attributed the scale of the audit to a mail-room error, saying the requests for records were supposed to be sent in batches, not all at once. Download flier.

You don’t have to meet with a CDPH investigator alone, CAPT is here to help

CAPT activists at the Sonoma Developmental Center want every Psychiatric Technician Assistant member to know they have a right to union representation during an investigatory interview by the California Department of Public Health. Working with SDC labor relations, human resources and the investigative unit at CDPH, CAPT reps at SDC have secured confirmation from CDPH‘s chief investigator that the right of all BU 18 PTAs to have a union rep present during a CDPH investigatory interview will not be infringed. In an email to CAPT activist Megan Gordon, vice president, Sonoma Chapter, the department’s chief investigator recognized that since the outcome of an investigatory interview could lead to a negative employment consequence, the PTA, who is the subject of an investigation, has a right to be represented by a union rep during the investigatory interview. Download flier.

Cash-out requests must be submitted by end of May

CAPT has recently confirmed participation in the 2017 employee leave cash out benefit program from the Department of Developmental Services. DDS will allow for the maximum annual cash out of up to 80 hours of accumulated vacation/annual leave for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Download flier.

Pych Techs are the Best!

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. First observed October 11–16, 1954, National Nurses Week honors the 100th anniversary of Florence Nightingale's mission to Crimea, where she and a team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British-based hospital, reducing the war death count by two-thirds. Download flier.

Printed copies to arrive in mailboxes by end of May

Following a complete review of our recently enacted contract by both CAPT and the California Department of Human Resources, CAPT is pleased to report that a finished copy was delivered to the printer for processing and mail distribution. BU 18 members can expect to receive their personal copy in their mailboxes by the end of May. Download flier.

Known as International Workers’ Memorial Day and the United Nations’ World Day for Safety and Health, April 28 marks the annual day of mourning for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. The day also serves as a potent reminder that most workplace deaths, injuries, and illnesses are preventable. Download flier.

Recent updates on CAPT's Contract regarding retro-payments and raises.  See flier for details.  DOWNLOAD HERE.

CAPT’s 2016 - 2019 contract with the State of California was put into effect on March 15, 2017, the day Gov. Brown signed SB 28 into law. CAPT wants every BU 18 member to have access to and understanding of their new workplace rights. Compiled below by article and section is a list of our new workplace rights.  While not exhaustive, the list highlights the key provisions that are most frequently referenced by BU 18 members and advocates. If you have any questions, please contact a local chapter representative.

Article 2, Psychiatric Technicians

2.1 (A) Dignity clause violations are now grievable to the CalHR level.
2.1 (B) (3) (a) Employees will now be given the opportunity to secure the representative of his/ her choice within 24-hours of receiving notice of an investigatory interview.
2.1 (B) (3) (d) LOIs are now grievable to the second level (verbal counseling should occur before LOI).
2.1 (B) (3) (e) Employees shall have the right to attach a rebuttal to an LOI.
2.1 (B) (5) Employees shall not be directed to make any statement until, upon employee request, they have had an opportunity to review the matter with a representative. Download flier.

The March/April Outreach is available online. Download here.

Loose lips sink careers

CAPT has been noticed by the Department of State Hospitals that the employees of the Office of Protective Services may utilize portable audio/video recorders when conducting preliminary investigations in response to certain incidents at DSH facilities. As your labor union, CAPT cannot stress enough how important it is for you to guard your speech and any statement you may feel compelled to give under these emotionally charged circumstances. These vulnerable, time-sensitive moments give investigators a unique opportunity for immediate exploitation of our representational rights by seeking employee statements that are premature, unadvised and emotionally driven. Download flier.

Loose lips sink careers

CAPT activists at the Corrections Chapters have been alerted to a disturbing trend where investigators from the Office of Investigative Affairs are conducting “knock and talk” investigative interviews, bullying CAPT members at their place of residence into giving up their legally protected right to union representation. In such instances, investigators show up at the home of an employee using manipulative methods to elicit a voluntary statement. In one such instance, an investigator tried to compel a CAPT member into cooperating with the investigation without representation by saying the issue at hand was much more serious than any union issue and that it would be in the person’s best interest to cooperate without the presence of a union rep. Download flier.

Loose lips sink careers

CAPT activists at Porterville Developmental Center have been alerted that investigators from the Office of Protective Services are calling members on the phone and bullying them into giving up their legally protected right to union representation. CAPT urges all BU 18 members not to let an investigator intimidate you into giving up any unadvised statements, not in person nor over the telephone. No matter the situation, the information sought after could lead to disciplinary or even criminal action. Anytime you have a reasonable belief that the interview may lead to disciplinary action, you’re legally entitled to union representation. If the investigator tries to downplay the situation or tries to intimidate or pressure you into complying, say you are not willing to oblige the questioning without representation and call CAPT right away. It is also important to establish whether you are being administratively or criminally interviewed, as you will have different rights in each situation. If you are unsure, call CAPT for assistance. Download flier.

The California Department of State Hospitals has introduced, for the purpose of reducing overtime, an Internal Registry Policy Directive that establishes, uniformly, a pool of registry staff and guidelines at each DSH facility. The policy, partially driven by CAPT’s strong advocacy to reduce mandatory overtime, was discussed at length during a recent meeting between CAPT and DSH representatives. During the meeting, CAPT expressed its concerns that the required shift increase would impact registry staff at some facilities; the state, however, was eager to begin implementation. Download flier.

CAPT’s tentative agreement with the State of California was signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Brown, putting every contract provision, including our retroactive pay raises, into immediate effect. The agreement, reached Dec. 8, entered the legislative process after Bargaining Unit 18 member respondents voted 98 percent in January to ratify the agreement. Once BU 18 members signed off on the agreement, the contract language was drafted into Senate Bill 28 and presented to the Legislature for approval. On Feb. 17, the Senate passed the bill to the Assembly on a 27-7 vote, who then passed the measure to the governor on a 61-14 vote. Download flier.

CAPT activists and consultants met with state representatives from DSH, CDCR/CCHCS, and CalHR to discuss the state’s ‘Lift and Shift’ proposal and its implications on BU 18 employees working at the affected facilities. Present at the meeting with your questions in hand were Stockton Chapter officers Jamila O’Neal, Emmanuel Inyama and Toni King, and Northern Corrections Chapter President Kim Souza and Job Steward Tia Logan, California Medical Facility, Vacaville, and State President Eric Soto and CAPT Consultants Ann Lyles, Coby Pizzotti and Attorney Sean Bedrosian. Download flier.

Kathy Gustafson, PT - CSP-Sac, was recently added to CAPT's list of BU 18 members in need of Catastrophic Leave donations. To learn how to donate, please Download flier.

Today, the State Assembly voted 58 - 14 approving Senate Bill 28, the legislation containing CAPT’s tentative agreement and contract language. The measure now moves to the governor for his signature. Our agreement with the State of California must be ratified by the Legislature and governor before its provisions can go into effect. Download flier.

Senate Bill 28, the legislation containing CAPT’s tentative agreement and contract language, is making its way through the legislative process. Our agreement with the State of California must be ratified by the Legislature and governor before its provisions can go into effect.

“Waiting for the contract to be signed has been like watching ice melt, but it’s moving along,” said CAPT State President Eric Soto. “CAPT will continue to keep all our members updated every step of the way.” Download flier.

On March 14, CAPT will meet with state department representatives to discuss the ‘Lift and Shift’ proposal and its impact on Bargaining Unit 18 members working at the affected facilities. CAPT expects to have all departments present at this important meeting, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Correctional Healthcare Services, California Department of State Hospitals and California Department of Human Resources. Download flier.

CAPT has recently accepted the Department of Developmental Services’ Employee Retention Incentive Program for employees affected by facility closures and layoffs. The terms and conditions of the program are provided below. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact your CAPT chapter office.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Effective July 1, 2016, all newly hired and current DDS employees working at the Sonoma Developmental Center, Fairview Developmental Center and Porterville Developmental Center's General Treatment Area that are subject to closure and layoffs are eligible to accrue a Retention Incentive stipend.
2. Less than full-time employees shall be eligible to accrue a retention stipend according to their time base. Download flier.

Marisol Martinez, PT, Atascadero, was recently added to CAPT's list of BU 18 members in need of Catastrophic Leave donations. To donate, please download the flier.

The January/February 2017 Outreach is available online. Download here. 

CAPT is pleased to announce BU 18 has approved our tentative agreement with the State of California. Ninety-eight percent of respondents voted in favor of ratification. Our 2016 – 19 contract agreement must now be approved by the Legislature and governor. Our agreement has been drafted into Senate Bill 28, which is expected to move quickly through the legislative process and to the governor’s desk. CAPT expects the governor’s approval of SB 28 by late February or early March. Our contract and all its provisions will become effective immediately upon Gov. Brown’s signature approval. Download flier.

Gov. Brown’s recently released proposed 2017-18 budget directs the release and transfer of three DSH mental health facilities to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/California Correctional Health Care Services. The Department of State Hospitals currently operates 1156 mental health treatment beds inside three California state prisons: California Health Care Facility, Stockton; Salinas Valley State Prison; and California Medical Facility, Vacaville. The plan, otherwise known as ‘lift and shift,’ has been in the workings for three years and is the result of a Nov. 2015 memorandum of understanding between CDCR and DSH to improve program operations, including service delivery and inmate referral timelines. Download flier.

Last November, California passed Proposition 64 legalizing the possession and consumption of marijuana for recreational use. It is important to note that the passage of Prop. 64 does not affect the right of an employer, including the state of California, to maintain a drug-free workplace and prohibit the possession or use of marijuana in the workplace. Dowload flier.

Are you prepared?

Are you being audited? If not, chances are you might be soon. The Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians has increased its number of Continuing Education audits. The increase, which is substantial and being felt statewide, is the BVNPT’s response to a recent report detailing past CE audit inactivity and fraudulent reporting. According to the report, 75 percent of the license renewals randomly sampled were processed with fraudulent CEUs. To make-up for the reported shortfall, the BVNPT plans to randomly audit one-third of its licensed LVNs and PTs for CE compliance. To our profession, the figure amounts to approximately 4,000 CE audits statewide. Compare that figure to the 760 total audits conducted on licensed Psychiatric Technicians between fiscal years 2010 through 2014. Download flier.

The November/December 2016 Outreach is available online. Download Outreach. 

Did you know a portion of your union dues or fees is tax deductible?

Federal law requires CAPT to give you a written estimate of how much of your membership dues or fair share fees go to the organization’s lobbying and  political expenses.

The majority of the dues or fees you pay is allowable as an “employee business expense” deduction under your federal income tax. And your state tax is linked to the federal tax.

However, the part of your dues or fees that CAPT uses for political contributions and lobbying on behalf of Psych Techs is not tax-deductible. Download flier.

Sacramento - December 9, 2016 - The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT), the union representing more than 6,000 psychiatric technicians and related classes, employed at California state hospitals, prisons, and developmental centers, reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the State of California that includes improvements for these direct-care professionals. Download Press Release.

After 28 grueling bargaining sessions with the State of California that culminated with a 20-hour session ending at 6:00 A.M. on Dec. 8., CAPT is pleased to report a tentative agreement for a new contract has been reached. CAPT’s bargaining team, including the CAPT Board of Directors, Chief Negotiator Ann Lyles and CAPT Legal Counsel Sean Bedrosian, worked diligently with one goal in mind: to improve our contract. Listed below is a brief synopsis of our new tentative agreement, the duration of which is from July 1, 2016 through July 1, 2019. Download flier.

Gustavo Zamora, PT - Fairview, was recenlty added to the list of coworkers in need of catastophic leave donations. Download Flier.

CAPT and its bargaining team members want to remind BU 18 members that our contract negotiations will resume Dec. 6 and 7. Please note that while our bargaining trek has been long and hard, having met with the State 26 times to date, we are still in negotiations. Download Flier.

On Nov. 1 and 2, CAPT bargaining team members met with the state to continue our negotiations on the remaining critical issues, including overtime, swaps and vacation. Although team members bargained well into the night on both days, little movement was made. Some progress was made with regard to overtime, but little in the way of our vacation and swaps. Download flier.

CAPT expects vacation slot deficits

Affected members are encouraged to file grievances

CAPT is expecting a possible deficit in the number of vacation slots for our upcoming 2017 vacation bid via the ASSIST. Affected members are encouraged to file a grievance right away. Article 6.2 of our MOU requires our employer to provide a necessary number of vacation slots so that each BU 18 employee may receive their full 32 days of vacation. Download flier.

Plan seeks to reduce PT license renewal fees

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians approved an audit report that resulted from CAPT-sponsored language that was added to AB 179 by Assembly member Bonilla. The User Fee Audit Report, prepared by Capitol Accounting Partners, LLC, provided a detailed cost analysis of the Board’s individual and institutional licensing fee structures and sought to determine a fair and equitable method of allocating non-fee expenses, such as enforcement practices, including educational requirements, standards of practice and consumer rights education. Download flier.

The September/October 2016 Outreach is available online.

October 21, 2016 | Download Outreach

CAPT’s attempt to reach a contract agreement came to a crashing halt Aug. 23 over critical issues, including overtime, swaps and vacation. After holding informational meetings at each chapter, CAPT launched a three-week contract survey to collect measurable feedback from BU 18 members on the remaining contentious issues. The survey, closed Oct. 12, contained nine questions that addressed members’ views on mandate limits, swaps, vacation and Ad Hoc slots, and retroactive coverages for pay increases, health care costs and shift differentials. Download flier.

A Day of Remembrance

In Memory of Donna Kay Gross
Born March 30, 1956
San Jose, California
Died October 23, 2010
Napa, California

Wear Black on October 23

October 23 marks the six-year anniversary of the death of Donna Gross: mother, grandmother and dedicated Napa State Hospital Psychiatric Technician. Download flier.

Be informed, prepared and ready!

As previously reported, our 2017 Vacation Bids will be administered statewide via the ASSIST program, otherwise known as the Automated Staff Scheduling and Information Support Tool, between October 17 and November 15. Our Ad Hoc bidding will begin on December 1 and will roll out alphabetically, beginning with Atascadero, followed by Coalinga, Metro, Napa, Patton and Stockton. Download flier.

Jennifer Reyes, PT at MSH, was recently added to list of members in need of catastrophic leave donations. Download flier.