Chapter 1 – General Administration

The Chief of the Office of Labor Relations (OLROffice of Labor Relations) reports to the Undersecretary for Administration and Offender Services. The OLROffice of Labor Relations is responsible for establishing policies and planning, organizing, developing, monitoring, and administering positive and effective labor management relationships and services among CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, its employees, and recognized employee organizations, thereby ensuring the delivery of CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation services to the public with minimum disruption. This is accomplished through, but not limited by, the following:

• Represents management in all areas of labor-management relations, including contract negotiations and administration, statewide and local meeting and conferring, and in handling employee grievances and complaints.

• Establishes policies and procedures related to labor-management relations.

• Provides all levels of management with accurate interpretations of applicable policies, rules, laws, and contract provisions.

• Provides staff support and consultation services to all levels of management regarding rights and responsibilities under the Ralph C. Dills Act and the labor contracts.

• Implements the collective bargaining law for all covered employees and the excluded employees bill of rights.

• Meets and confers in good faith with exclusive employee representatives promptly upon request.

• Upon request, meets and confers, in accordance with Government Code Section 3533, with all employee organizations representing supervisory employees. “Meet and confer” means that they shall consider, as fully as the employer deems reasonable, reprensentations made on behalf of supervisory members prior to arriving at a determination of policy.

• Provides a resource for negotiating labor contracts under the Ralph C. Dills Act.

• Provides training and advice on labor relations issues.

CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Hiring Authorities, other than the Office of Labor Relations (OLROffice of Labor Relations), seeking to appoint a Labor Relations Analyst (LRA) or an individual performing LRA duties, shall notify the Chief of the OLROffice of Labor Relations or designee prior to advertisement and ensure the Chief of the OLROffice of Labor Relations or designee is afforded the opportunity to review potential candidate applications, participate in interviews, and provide suggestions on candidates.  This includes temporary assignments, training and development assignments, and out-of-class assignments where an individual performs the duties of the LRA classification within the Department. 

The OLROffice of Labor Relations is responsible for ensuring the Department notifies the various Bargaining Units within CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation when the Department seeks to adopt or amend policies and/or regulations that change working conditions. Prior to the implementation of any new or amended policy and/or regulation, the Hiring Authority shall provide a Negotiation Preparation Tool to the OLROffice of Labor Relations. Detailed instructions on the Negotiation Preparation Tool Process will be available on the CDCRCalifornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Intranet under the OLROffice of Labor Relations team site.

The OLROffice of Labor Relations will analyze the information provided by the Hiring Authority to determine the potential impact to employee wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. The OLROffice of Labor Relations will determine the Department’s notice requirements and will work collaboratively with the specific Hiring Authority to ensure all notice requirements are met.

This process will help ensure that consistent and effective communication between the Hiring Authority and the OLROffice of Labor Relations begins during the early stages of policy and regulation development and will improve efficiency during bargaining and the meet and confer process.

The Chief, Office of Labor Relations or designee is responsible for ensuring that the contents of this article are current and accurate.

The Chief, Office of Labor Relations or designee is responsible for ensuring that the contents of this article are current and accurate.

Ralph C. Dills Act CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations 15 (3).

Government Code Section 3512 and 3528, et seq.

Ralph C. Dills Act CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations 15 (3).