Being a merit employee means you are entitled to the rights and protections as explained in the Merit Rules. Transfers are given within the transfer unit based on state seniority. Employees who are not eligible for union representation may transfer from one position to another, but an employee must apply for the position. Yes, an employee may always apply for vacant positions by completing a state application. Yes, a state employee may always apply for vacant positions.
Seniority is defined as an employee's total unbroken, continuous state service.
In other words, it is an employee's latest date of hire. If an employee is the target of an investigation, a union representative may act as the employee's witness during the investigation interview.