A&R has entered into a contract extension agreement with the State, ensuring the contract remains valid beyond the expiration date (which is today). Click here to view the Contract Extension. The extension runs through July 1, 2022, or until a successor contract is approved by the Legislature. In essence, all aspects of the contract remain in force, the notable exceptions being the prohibition against contracting out (which should not be viewed as unusual), MOU VIII (snowday procedures), and member access to professional development and tuition reimbursement funds. Please continue to submit tuition/prof development reimbursement requests realizing that we need to negotiate for retroactive funding. Top step payments are part of the salary and therefore we expect that they will be paid in January as normal. Future increments will need to be negotiated and therefore will not occur under this contract extension and A&R will pursue retroactivity as appropriate.
It is too early to tell if we will have a settled contract to bring for a membership vote, or if we will need to seek an arbitration award that is binding on both parties. Both parties have presented their suggested changes to the contract language and we have held 9 bargaining sessions with the State with no major areas of dispute to report, the possible exception being telecommuting language. The number of meetings has risen above the threshold needed to declare impasse, but we continue to discuss the proposals as the discussions have been fruitful and honest. Initial financial proposal packages have been exchanged. The initial proposals are starting points for further discussions. However, as of today (July 1, 2021) substantive discussions regarding wages have not yet taken place. So we have four meetings scheduled for July and we will continue to discuss language changes in areas such as service ratings, the reclass process, and Temporary Service in a Higher Class, along with the various other proposals, with both parties preparing to discuss potential financial packages.
7/1/21