The value of union membership was clearly demonstrated on Wednesday (March 27th) when lawyers working at the Attorney Generals Office had their first contract approved at the state legislature. This was a significant milestone for this group of 185 state employees. These employees had not been unionized previously and had not recieved raises in many years. About two years ago these 'at will' state employees organized themselves. They petitioned the state for the right to form a union. They held a vote. They formed their own union. The result: with their first contract they secured a 3.5% wage increase and another 2% annual increment over each of the next two years, a bonus of $2,000, and significantly reduced healthcare costs. These wage increases will cover them through 2021 and will be the first wage increases they have seen since 2014.
On the political front, Democrats (for the most part) supported the arbitrated contract, while Republicans stood in opposition to the raises and complained about the arbitration process because they didn't like the result. The contract passed by a margin of 77-67 in the House with eight Democrats joining all Republicans in voting against. In the Senate the margin was razor thin at 19-17 in favor with three Democrats and all Republicans opposed.
We would like to congratulate the Assistant Attorney Generals for recognizing what they needed to do and for the effort they put forth to unionize.
posted 3/29/19