As you most likely know, three of our fellow state employee unions have declared impasse, having grown frustrated by the administration’s lackluster offer which was a wage freeze with steps (for some) and a meager lump sum for 2025/26, followed by three years of 0% wages and no steps in all other years. The A&R negotiating team is just as frustrated as everyone else who is dealing with this administration. We believe that employees need a wage increase which mirrors our growing personal expenses and acknowledges the rising consumer price indexes. A state that has completed the last several