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SEBAC Unions Ratify Tentative Agreement

Posted & updated 7/18

The members have spoken.  Results of the ratification vote were as follows:

A&R Contract Tentative Agreement (A&R membership vote):

  • Yes   84.32%
  • No    15.68%

Pension/Healthcare Tentative Agreement (A&R membership vote):

  • Yes   81.69%
  • No    18.31%

At SEBAC, a strong majority of our colleagues also ratified the agreement.  With strong support from the various membership constituents, last night leaders of the 15 SEBAC unions voted unanimously to approve the Tentative Agreement, thus clearing the way for the next step.

Across the State, SEBAC union members voted to ratify the Pension/Healthcare Tentative Agreement:

  • Yes   83%
  • No    17%

Of the 33 collective bargaining units represented by SEBAC, all units voted to ratify their contracts.

The next step is for the Tentative Agreement to go before the Legislature for their consideration.  How the Legislature will proceed is unclear, but the issue is expected to come to the floor of the House on Monday.  The Tentative Agreement must clear the Legislature to become effective.

Call your State Representatives and urge them to support Collective Bargaining.  Urge them to support the Agreement.

SEBAC press release

Governor's press release

SEBAC Press Conference - 7/17/17 (video link to CT-N)


A&R Tentative Agreement Election Results

Results of voting on A&R's successor agreement are as follows:

A&R Contract Tentative Agreement

  • Yes   84.32%
  • No    15.68%

The 15 voting members of SEBAC agreed not to release the Pension/healthcare voting results until all bargaining units have completed voting.  All bargaining units will be completed today.

The next step in the process is to report the A&R vote at SEBAC, which is anticipated to meet later today.  At SEBAC, if the threshold of 10 voting members declare that the Pension/healthcare TA passed their membership (and the 10 voting members constitute 66% of state employee union membership) then the Pension/healthcare TA will pass and both the Pension/healthcare TA and the A&R contract will be submitted to the legislature for acceptance.  

Posted 7/17

A&R Contract and Pension/Healthcare Voting Has Opened

Voting credentials for the online balloting on our A&R Contract and the Pension/Healthcare Tentative Agreement should be arriving in mailboxes starting Friday 7/7/17.  Voting credentials will be on a postcard with the A&R logo and will include a username, password, and the exact web address to key in.
Only active members will receive credentials.

If you have not received your voting credentials, email office@andr.org with your name and a home email address by noon on Friday 7/14/17.  BigPulse (the voting administrator) will contact you via email with your credentials within 24hrs.

If you are having trouble typing/accessing the voting website, this link will bring you directly to the log-in screen 

https://www.bigpulse.com/p47315/signin

 

 Voting opened on Friday 7/7/17 and closes Sunday night 7/16/17 at 11:59 pm.


Voting: Contract and Pension/Healthcare

A&R Employees have two tentative agreements: one is our own contract and the other is a pension/healthcare agreement.

Both agreements are required to pass a majority vote of the membership.  Voting will open Friday 7/7 through Sunday 7/16 11:59 pm.  This will be an electronic vote via website just like our annual union voting. 

While two seperate votes are required: one vote on the A&R contract and a second vote for Pension/Healthcare, be aware that this is a package deal.  In order to obtain the wage increases and job security being offered, a 'yes' vote is needed on both the A&R contract and the SEBAC modifications.   If the A&R contract is passed by the membership, but the membership votes down the SEBAC changes (pension and healthcare) it is a near certainty the legislature will reject the A&R contract, sending us to arbitration.  

All ACTIVE members will receive their voting credentials in the mail within the next few days (non-members/fee payers will not receive credentials).  Voting credentials will be on a postcard-sized document with the A&R logo on front and back.  Type in the web address identified on the postcard (exactly as written) and enter your credentials. The website is enabled for smartphone access as well.

If there are issues with the voting or you do not receive your credentials by Tuesday 7/11, please email: office@andr.org.

SEBAC Framework Accepted By Unions

The 15 members of SEBAC voted to accept the negotiated Framework resulting in a Tentative Agreement between the State and the SEBAC unions.  The Tentative Agreement will now be subject to membership ratification.  The results of the ratification vote are to be reported back to SEBAC on July 17, 2017.

The A&R membership will be voting electronically on 2 issues simultaneously:

1) Pension/Healthcare Tentative Agreement
2) A&R Contract Tentative Agreement.

A simple majority (>50%) is required to pass each issue.

View the SEBAC Tentative Agreement
View the A&R Tentative Agreement


We Have A Tentative Agreement on the A&R Contract

The long running battle to get an A&R contract has come to a significant point.  After many long days and late nights, we have hammered out a tentative agreement with the State.  The tentative agreement has been signed by both parties and will be subject to a membership ratification vote in July.

There were many issues that needed to be addressed and many provisions that we needed to protect.  As you will see, collective bargaining can lead to improved benefits, guaranteed by contract.  We covered quite a bit of ground in this agreement.

Some of the issues:

  • Snow day shift closings won't incur use of accruals,
  • Delayed Openings will allow full "ww" credit and ability to make up the time,
  • "Essential Employees" will receive comp time if their normal shift is closed yet they work
  • Maximum vacation accrual increased (payout remains capped at 480 hrs)
  • AWS won't be denied or removed without a proper (expedited) hearing.
  • If instructed to attend meetings outside employee AWS schedule requires 10 day notice or OT/Comp
  • Funeral Time now includes memorial services and mother/father in-laws
  • Stipend for volunteering to provide bilingual services
  • Top Step Payment will be a permanent part of wages, no longer a bonus at risk
  • Tuition/Professional Development funds will be paid retroactively
  • Attorney CLEs will be covered (both cost and time)
  • Telecommuting policy to be negotiated later this year
  • Durational/temporary employees attain contract rights

Summary of the A&R Contract Tentative Agreement

What Happens Next...