-2/27/26
I know it has been a while since our last update, so let's get caught up. We have met with the State several times over the last few weeks and we are so very close to an agreement. Right now we have one "ask" on the table (that the State should agree to) and the State has one ask on the table and there is one contentious issue that was lingering but i believe is resolved but not yet officially conveyed to us. We will meet with the State again on Wednesday and hopefully we can wrap this up.
If we do get everything finalized, we will first take a vote at the Negotiations Cmte. If the Negotiations Cmte recommends passage of the tentative agreement then it will go to the Representative Assembly (our A&R Executive Board) for a vote. If the tentative agreement passes the Exec Board vote then the TA will go to the membership for a ratification vote. If it passes the membership ratification we will send it to the legislature for a vote in the House and Senate. This timeline will be quick. If we can get a deal on Tuesday, we expect to convene a vote of the Negotiations Cmte that same week and an Exec Board vote on March 10 during our regular monthly meeting. We would hold the ratification vote electronically mid/late March and have this in front of the Legislature before April...at least...that is the plan right now. So hang in there, we are almost done and we will hopefully be getting wage increases and retro-pay to everyone over the next couple of months.