As you know, in January 2007, the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) granted the CSU Employees Union (CSUEU)’s appeal and overturned Judge Tom Allen’s decision to place Library Assistants I, II, III and IV in Bargaining Unit 4, which is represented by the Academic Professionals of California (APC). PERB remanded the case back to Judge Allen so that additional evidence and testimony could be put on the record.
As a result of changes in technology, as well as changes in the duties and responsibilities of incumbent Library Assistants, CSU and CSUEU now seek to place the entire Library Services Specialist series in Bargaining Unit 9. CSUEU and CSU now believe that there is a far greater community of interest between LSSs and other classifications in Unit 9 than there is with Unit 4 or Unit 7.
APC has decided that it is the best interest of all concerned parties that this litigation be brought to an end. They have been working with CSUEU and CSU on a possible settlement, but so far the parties have been unable to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, Judge Allen has scheduled a meeting on June 20, 2007, to discuss whether a settlement is possible. If discussions on June 20th do not lead to a settlement, the parties will select date(s) for another hearing, which would likely be held in late summer or early fall.
We appreciate the patience of Library Assistants during this long process and we will provide you with more information as it becomes available.
Library Services Specialists: A brief chronology
In 2003, the Chancellor’s Office (CSU) notified CSUEU of the need to revise Library Assistant classification standards into a broad classification incorporating skill levels. A series of meetings took place between the CSU and CSUEU, resulting in a new set of standards, the Library Services Specialist classification. The proposed new standards included both Lead and Library Assistants in the same bargaining unit. Currently, there are approximately 23 Lead Library Assistants and approximately 512 Library Assistants. The classification standards were finalized in July 2003.
In February 2004, CSU filed a unit modification petition with PERB seeking to place the newly-created classification Library Services Specialist (LSS) series into Bargaining Unit 7. APC, which represents lead library assistants, intervened. CSUEU supported the CSU petition. The parties were unable to resolve their differences and the matter was set for formal hearing on July 13, 2004.
On November 7, 2005, administrative law judge Tom Allen granted the University’s petition to eliminate the classifications of Library Assistant I, II, III and IV, as well as Lead Library Assistant II, III and IV and replace them with the new Library Services Specialist classification. He also ruled that the new Library Services Specialist (LSS) classification standards should be placed in APC’s Unit 4. Allen concluded that employees in the new LSS standards would be performing work that is similar to the support work in Unit 4.
CSUEU appealed Judge Allen’s decision on December 16, 2005. APC filed a response on January 30, 2006. The CSU did not submit a response.
On January 23, 2007, PERB granted CSUEU’s appeal and remanded the case back to ALJ Allen so that additional evidence and testimony could be put on the record.
As a result of changes in technology, as well as changes in duties and responsibilities of incumbent Library Assistants, CSU and CSUEU now seek to place the entire Library Services Specialist series in Bargaining Unit 9. CSUEU and CSU now believe that there is a greater community of interest between LSSs and other classifications in BU 9 than with
BU 4 or BU 7.
PERB has set June 20, 2007, for a meeting to determine whether a settlement of this case is possible, or whether dates for additional hearing dates should be set.