Service Ratings are due no later than this Friday (September 30). 

The Rating Categories have not changed (Quality,Quantity, Dependability, Ability to Deal w/others, & Supervisory) .
The Evaluation Scoring has not changed (Excellent, Superior, Satisfactory, Fair, & Unsatisfactory).

However, the new Annual Rating actually comes in 2 parts now: the actual "Rating Form" (PER-127) and then a seperate "Comments Form" (PER-127A).

The 2 forms work like this: the Rating Form PER-127 must be signed after receipt and discussion with your supervisor/manager and will go into your personnel file...you must sign it, it doesn't matter if you agree with the rating, you are signing that you received it, not that you agree with it.   However, the Comments Form 127A is optional if you received a rating considered overall Good or better.  (Overall Good or better means no more than one category is rated as Fair AND there are no Unsatisfactory scores).  In this instance, if you do not want the comments attached to your Rating Form, then simply do not sign the Comments Form and they will not be included in your personnel file.  You may keep a copy of the Comments Form even if you do not sign the Comments Form. 

If you do sign the Comments Form, then you have 3 days to revoke your signature and have the Comments Form (PER-127A) removed from your personnel file.  If you receive a rating that is "Less than Good" (meaning multiple Fairs or a single Unsatisfactory) then the comments are required to remain with your Annual Rating.

There are some changes around "Less than Good" ratings.  There are 2 types of "Less than Good" ratings...an "Overall Fair" rating is when you receive 2 Fairs.  The first time this occurs it will not lead to the denial of a Step Increase (this is new this year).  The second type of "Less than Good" is an "Overall Unsatisfactory" rating which is comprised of either a single rating of Unsatisfactory in any category or 3 Fairs on the Service Rating.

A single Fair rating and every other combination of Excellent, Superior, and Satisfactory scores is considered an "Overall Good" rating and this year will lead to a Step Increase if you are not yet at top step.

If you receive an "Overall Less than Good" rating, then we strongly suggest you contact an A&R Steward and file a grievance (must be grieved within 30 days of receipt).  If the rating is not given to you by this Friday September 30 then it is considered late and can be removed.

TRAINEE CLASSES and PERSONAL LEAVE
Are you an ACT or CCT?  Please be aware that ACT's and CCT's now are granted 3 days of Personal Leave after successfully completing 6 months of service.  This is a recent change to our contract. Prior to this, persons in trainee classes did not qualify for PL days until they had completed their working test period, which could be up to two years.
(Contract language Article 18, Section 6)

VACATION ACCRUAL and BREAKS IN STATE SERVICE
Do you have many years of state service?  During that time did you take break and leave state service only to return and begin and the entry level vacation accrual rates?  In our recently negotiated contract, we changed the rate of vacation accrual for those who left state service and subsequently returned to state service.  Under the new language of our contract, all state service counts towards the calculation of your vacation accrual rate, rather than just the time since your date of last hire.  This change is prospective only and not retroactive.  If you think this change impacts you, please contact HR about changing your accrual rate.  If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the A&R office at (860) 953 1316.
(Contract language Article 12, Section 7)

Planning for the 2022 A&R Holiday Party is underway!  The party will be held on Friday December 2, 2022 at the Aquaturf in Plantsville (Southington)  (view the flyer). 

This will be an in-person event...for the first time since 2019!  This year's party will have all of the flair of our "old" parties: there will be games, raffles, contests, prizes, photobooth, music/dancing, drinks...and of course a great meal!

To register, you can either complete the flyer and mail a check to the A&R office (or personally drop off the registration form at our office at 805 Brook St, Rocky Hill)...or you can register and pay by credit card online by following this link.

Of course, it wouldn't be an A&R Holiday Party without our annual Toy Drive (food donations and cash donations are also welcome).  Anyone who donates an unwrapped toy, or food, or cash will receive an extra raffle ticket!

Either way, we have a limit of 1,000 guests so don't delay! (registration closes November 22).

Hope to see you there!

Looking for a position that requires the skills of an advocate, educator, and organizer?  You should become a union steward.

Union stewards advocate for their colleagues in the workplace, making sure all employees receive fair and appropriate treatment in all aspects of their work.  Stewards also educate fellow members about important notices and contract updates, while making sure managers are educated about employee rights.  Stewards play a key role in organizing individuals into a vocal, active union that can advocate for necessary change and improvements to the state workplace.

We have several vacancies in the steward ranks due to the recent retirement wave. We are looking for the next generation of union stewards to step forward to protect and serve our fellow members. The time to apply is now and we welcome your application. If you think one of your union brothers and sisters may make a great steward, please encourage them to apply.

Applicants for a union steward position should send: (1) a cover letter; (2) a résumé; and (3) the names and phone numbers of two A&R members in the applicant’s agency who will serve as character references. For consideration of your application this year, please ensure you send this information by August 19, 2022.

Please send your application either by email to plamb@andr.org or by mail, attention Patrick Lamb, Chief Steward at A&R, 805 Brook Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.

If you are selected for an interview we will contact you to arrange a time. Applicants must have completed their initial working test period prior to consideration.

UPDATED SCHEDULE OF WALKS (as of October 1, 2022)

Labor 2 Labor walks are a "boots on the ground" door-knocking campaign to support candidates who pledge support to the labor movement.  These walks are only visits to fellow labor union members and they are geared to encourage/remind people to vote in the upcoming election (Tuesday Nov 8, 2022).

To participate in these "get out the vote" campaigns, all you need to do is show up at one of the designated locations and get your street assignment from there.  These walks are held every Saturday from now until election day.  If you have never done a Labor Walk, they sound more intimidating than they are, they are actually quite simple and fun to do (especially on a crisp fall morning).

A&R has also added a little "bonus" incentive to anyone who attends a Labor 2 Labor walk: any A&R member who participates gets a raffle ticket for each walk they attend; we will pick a winner in November for a $250 prize.  Also, anyone who attends three Labor 2 Labor walks will receive an A&R fleece jacket.

This year is especially big for A&R as AFT-CT President Jan Hochadel is running for State Senate in Meriden (A&R is an AFT-CT affiliate)...Jan's pursuit of a State Senate seat is a big deal for the labor movement as the State Senate is nearly split, so anything we can do to support Jan will be hugely beneficial to labor unions in this state.

The Labor 2 Labor walk schedule is attached here...just make sure you identify yourself as A&R (local 4200) when you arrive so we can credit you with a raffle ticket and/or an A&R fleece jacket.

The A&R Picnic will be in-person this year, our first "in-person" event since 2019!  This year our Summer Picnic will be held at La Bella Vista in Waterbury.  The event starts at 11:30 and the cost is $20 for active A&R members ($33 for Retirees). This year, in addition to an expanded menu, there will be free beer, wine, and soda!  Of course we will also have music, games, and raffle prizes to keep everyone entertained.

The deadline for online or walk-in registration is August 15, the deadline for mail-in registration is August 12

To register online using a credit/debit card, follow this link

To register by mail with a check, complete this form and mail to A&R

Reminder: A&R members are entitled to use ½ day of leave time to attend the Union Picnic. Appropriate notice should be given to your agency, according to
Memorandum of Understanding III, Page 90 of the blue A&R Contract.

The menu for the picnic will consist of:
HAMBURGERS/CHEESE, HOT DOGS, RIB EYE STEAK SANDWICHES SERVED WITH PORTUGUESE ROLLS &
BUNS, FRIED LONG HOT PEPPERS, SAUTÉED SWEET PEPPERS & ONIONS, BBQ CHICKEN, CORN ON THE COB,
CHILLED PASTA SALAD, COLESLAW, MIXED GREEN SALAD, ASSORTED CONDIMENTS & DILL PICKLE SPEARS