THIS WEEK'S PAYCHECK SHOULD INCLUDE:

One-time Lump Sum Payment of either $1,000 or $2,000 (SEBAC 2017)

Longevity payment (delayed from April 2018)

• SEBAC 2017 provides that there shall be a $2,000 one time payment, to all employees, or top step lump sum plus $1,000 if greater.  The one time payments shall be paid in July of 2018.  The top step lump shall be paid on the employee's normal increment date
• For the rare "July Anniversary" members, the Top Step Payment would also be included during the July 20 paycheck, but again, this is ONLY for the very few, highly uncommon "July Anniversary" members.

The Supreme Court announced its decision in Janus v AFSCME on June 27.  In its simplest form, the court struck down something referred to as "agency fees".  Agency fees were a form of alternate payment made by employees who chose not to join the union.  Historically, agency fees were established to ensure that all employees, regardless of union membership status, contributed to defray the costs of collective bargaining and contract administration.  As of June 27, the court ruled that non-members no longer have to pay agency fees - that they could pay nothing.  This was a political decision by

Attorney General candidate William Tong wants to meet with AFTCT and A&R members employed with the Office of the Attorney General.  All A&R members within the OAG are invited to meet at the:

AFT CT Office
35 Marshall Rd, Rocky Hill, CT
Tuesday, July 24 at 5:30PM.

William Tong has been endorsed by AFT Connecticut for Attorney General, therefore, he wants to provide a unique opportunity to AFTCT union members, and invites them to ask questions of him. Not many people have this kind of access to their future boss so take the time to come out and talk to him.

We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity on July 24th at 35 Marshall Rd, Rocky Hill, CT  (this is NOT the A&R office, this is the AFTCT office in Rocky Hill).

Also:

Ned Lamont (candidate for Governor) will be visiting the A&R office on  Thursday July 19 at 5:15pm.   Ned will be seeking an endorsement from A&R so he will be at our office to answer questions from A&R members.

This will not be a stump speech, this is for A&R members to question Ned Lamont and to decide if we wish to endorse him in his primary bid against Joe Ganim.

Lastly:

A&R has made only one candidate endorsement thus far: in the 9th Senatorial District (Newington, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Middletown, Wethersfield), A&R has endorsed Matt Lesser for this senate seat.

Members enjoyed good weather at A&R's 2018 early summer picnic.  Good drinks, good food, fun games, dancing, but most importantly, good comraderie were on hand as A&R union brothers and sisters enjoyed themselves.  Thunderstorms held off, as did the sweltering heat.  The shade of the pavilion provided members the perfect place to relax and enjoy each other's company.  We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming late summer picnic at Maneeley's on August 31.

View a photo album of the event

Know your contract!  Don't take contract benefits for granted!  The A&R contract provides members the right to receive one half day off with pay to attend one annual picnic and one holiday party (sponsored by either your agency or your union).  Without the contract, leave time would be necessary to attend such functions.

- posted 7/12/18

Remember - independence was born out of a collective desire to do better.  And the realization that as a united front the people would be stronger.  Independence wasn’t won by the act of a single individual, nor was it defeated by the acts of traitors.  It was won by united people sticking together.

SUPPORT YOUR UNION

- posted 7/4/18

This morning the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mark Janus in the lawsuit he filed against his AFSCME union.  The court sided with Janus in stating that it is not consistent with the first amendment to force employees to pay agency fees if they choose not to be a member of the union.  The opinion of the court is essentially that public-sector unions effectively argue government policy every time wages, hours, working conditions, pensions, healthcare and other benefits are negotiated, and union members were being compelled to support such policies - even if they did not agree with the