Last year membership voted and approved the A&R contract, as well as modifications to the SEBAC agreement. These changes were negotiated by union members, for union members via A&R's Negotiations Committee. While no member was enthusiastic to make the sacrifices being asked, the membership overwhelmingly approved the negotiated contracts. The result: We have a signed labor agreement which runs through June 2021, with 7% built in wage increases, guaranteed top step bonuses (guaranteed throughout your career), two step increments, all longevity payments, and a cash bonus this July. We also have a pension and healthcare agreement which runs through 2027 maintaining our valuable healthcare and pension benefits which so many in the legislature wanted to deprive us of. Yes - sacrifices were made - member contributions to healthcare and pensions costs have increased - but here is why it is a good thing:
The Legislative Session opens February 7th. That session will open to news from the Comptroller's Office of a nearly quarter billion dollar deficit. Comptroller Lembo estimates the state budget, which was adopted just three months ago, is already $244.6 million in the red. We can be certain that some in the Legislature will again call for additional "sacrifices" - seeking an additional pound or so of flesh from the state's workforce. We needn't worry: we have a signed contract with wage increases guaranteed through 2021 and a signed SEBAC agreement which maintains valuable pension/healthcare benefits through 2027. It is impossible to predict what the Legislature will do in the coming session to address the state's financial condition. But know this. We have signed contracts. We cannot (and will not) be forced back to the negotiating table to make any modifications to our contracts.
Collective Bargaining Works. We have done our part!