The long running battle to get an A&R contract has come to a significant point. After many long days and late nights, we have hammered out a tentative agreement with the State. The tentative agreement has been signed by both parties and will be subject to a membership ratification vote in July.
There were many issues that needed to be addressed and many provisions that we needed to protect. As you will see, collective bargaining can lead to improved benefits, guaranteed by contract. We covered quite a bit of ground in this agreement.
Some of the issues:
- Snow day shift closings won't incur use of accruals,
- Delayed Openings will allow full "ww" credit and ability to make up the time,
- "Essential Employees" will receive comp time if their normal shift is closed yet they work
- Maximum vacation accrual increased (payout remains capped at 480 hrs)
- AWS won't be denied or removed without a proper (expedited) hearing.
- If instructed to attend meetings outside employee AWS schedule requires 10 day notice or OT/Comp
- Funeral Time now includes memorial services and mother/father in-laws
- Stipend for volunteering to provide bilingual services
- Top Step Payment will be a permanent part of wages, no longer a bonus at risk
- Tuition/Professional Development funds will be paid retroactively
- Attorney CLEs will be covered (both cost and time)
- Telecommuting policy to be negotiated later this year
- Durational/temporary employees attain contract rights