We are asking members to contact their state legislators to urge passage of House Resolution 32 and Senate Resolution 33 (HR32 & SR33).  We anticipate the legislature will act on these resolutions on Tuesday, May 28^th.  As you may recall, these legislative Resolutions are specific to A&R.  The substance behind HR32 & SR33 is a negotiated agreement between A&R and the state which applies to previously non-unionized employees who successfully petitioned the Labor Board to join A&R.  We expect vigorous debate and a close vote on the resolutions.  We worked hard negotiating this agreement with our counterparts at OLR.

As a union, the next step in the process is to ensure our voice is heard at the legislature and that our elected officials vote in support of the negotiated agreement between A&R and OLR.

What we ask of union members is easy to do: email (or telephone) your state Representative and your state Senator.  The message can be as simple as "Please vote yes on HR32 & SR33".

Negotiated agreements between labor and management need the support of the legislature - we are asking you to help with this final push.

Below are three links.  The first link provides a list of state senators, their district numbers, and their email addresses.  The second link provides a list of state representatives, their district numbers, and their email addresses.  The third link allows you to find your legislators by inputting your address.

State Senators email link
State Representatives email link
Find your Legislator link

Email them and ask them to vote yes on HR32 & SR33

As a reminder:

The following titles are included in HR32 & SR33:

• Airport Operations Manager
• Fiscal Administrative Manager 1
• Fiscal Administrative Manager 2
• Healthcare Advocate Program Manager
• DMV Hub Branch Manager
• Military Administrative & Program Manager
• Transportation Bridge Safety Principal Engineer
• Transportation Assistant District Engineer
• Transportation Principal Property Agent

The negotiated agreement being voted on in HR32 & SR33 calls for:

• Maintaining current wage ranges (e.g.- the current MP-66 becomes AR-66)
• GWIs of 3.5% for 2019 and 2020
• Steps of 2% for those who qualify
• 2.5% TSP for 2018, 2019, and 2020 for those who qualify
• Longevity at line AR32 for those at AR-67 or higher and line 30 for those at AR-66 or lower for those who qualify
• One furlough day during FY20 if they did not take it in FY18.
• $1000/$2000 payment that they were denied in 2018.
• Anyone over 560hrs of vacation accumulation may maintain their current vacation bank with that amount becoming their personal maximum .  All others will default to the A&R maximum of 560hrs.

Testimony was heard today at the Legislature's Appropriations Committee regarding 58 employees who petitioned to unionize and join A&R.  Today's testimony included a statement by A&R President John DiSette (pictured above).  These employees had previously been classified as managers. Having successfully petitioned the state labor board, they are now recognized as non-managerial and thus qualifying for collective bargaining under state statutes.  They represent nine job titles working at various agencies.  Negotiated agreements between A&R and OLR covering these nine job titles were presented at the Legislature within House Resolution 32 (HR32) and Senate Resolution 33 (SR33).  At the time of writing this article, the committee vote was still pending - with votes still to be registered until 4pm Friday May 17^th.  (editor's note: the resolution was indeed passed by the Appropriations Committee along partisan lines).  If  passed by the Appropriations Committee, HR32 & SR33 will next be taken up by the floor of the full House and the full Senate for ratification.  Assuming Committee passage, we anticipate that these resolutions will meet stiff resistance in the full chambers of the Legislature - passage is not guaranteed.  Legislation regarding the DRS Tax Attorneys (the first group of managers to join A&R) squeaked through the Senate on a razor thin vote of 19-17 last month.  We need you to reach out to your elected officials and urge them to support the negotiated agreements.

Contact your state senator and representative and tell them to "vote yes on HR32 & SR33".

- posted 5/17

The following titles are included in HR32 & SR33:

Airport Operations Manager
Fiscal Administrative Manager 1
Fiscal Administrative Manager 2
Healthcare Advocate Program Manager
DMV Hub Branch Manager
Military Administrative & Program Manager
Transportation Bridge Safety Principal Engineer
Transportation Assistant District Engineer
Transportation Principal Property Agent

The negotiated agreement calls for:

• Maintaining current wage ranges (e.g.- the current MP-66 becomes AR-66)
• GWIs of 3.5% for 2019 and 2020
• Steps of 2% for those who qualify
• 2.5% TSP for 2018, 2019, and 2020 for those who qualify
• Longevity at line AR32 for those at AR-67 or higher and line 30 for those at AR-66 or lower for those who qualify
• One furlough day during FY20 if they did not take it in FY18.
• $1000/$2000 payment that they were denied in 2018.
• Anyone over 560hrs of vacation accumulation may maintain their current vacation bank with that amount becoming their personal maximum .  All others will default to the A&R maximum of 560hrs.

A&R has another impact bargaining agreement coming before the legislature on May 17.   We have 9 titles which cover 58 employees that have unionized and been accepted by the State Labor Board to join A&R.  The agreement will be brought to the Appropriations Committee on May 17th as House Resolution 32 (HR32) and Senate Resolution 33 (SR33).  If both of these agreements pass the Appropriations Committee, they will be put to the floor of the full House and the full Senate.  Our last agreement covered only 6 Tax Attorneys and passed by a 19-17 vote in the Senate, this agreement will cover 58

Our annual Healthcare Open Enrollment period has arrived.  This is the brief window of opportunity to change your Medical or Dental plan for the upcoming year (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020).  The Open Enrollment period begins on May 6 and ends on May 31. 

If you wish to make a change, you must notify HR/Payroll for your agency and they will make the change.

A few things to know:

• There are no changes to our current health plan coverage for the upcoming year.
• There are no changes to the HEP requirements for the upcoming year (view your 2019 HEP progress/requirements)
• This is the only time during the

Congratulations to all our 2019 Scholarship Award winners.

A&R awarded 10 Scholarships in the amount of $1,500 to children of active A&R members who are graduating High School this year entering post-secondary education in September 2019.

A&R also awarded 5 Scholarships in the amount of $1,500 to children of active A&R members who are continuing their post-secondary education.

A&R also awarded the presigious Harry Zilber Scholarship of $2500 to the child of one active A&R member.

Link here to view the Scholarship winners and their photos

Don't forget that tonight is the A&R Convention at the A&R Office (805 Brook St, Rocky Hill)

The scholarships will be awarded starting at 4:30.

The business meeting will begin at 6:00pm (ID required).

The results of the election were clear as all measures passed overwhelmingly

Amendment 1: Active membership discontinued after notice provided (82%)
Amendment 2: Transition period (95%)
Amendment 3: Adding 5 days for Amendment submittals (93%)
Amendment 4: Removal of Agency Fees (92%)
Amendment 5: Only Active Members can make Budget Resolutions (94%)
Amendment 6: Only Active Members can vote and no notice