Big news this week. Management’s economic proposals — the meat and potatoes of your contract — are moving in our direction! Here are the key issues:
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Wages: Management has doubled its proposed a cost of living increase to 4% (2% in each year).
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Steps: We are in agreement with management that there will be step increases in 2019 and 2020. The State is now proposing adding a new top step, which would result in a meaningful raise for people who are topped out and more room to rise for everyone. We are still fighting for two new steps at the top.
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Healthcare: Both teams are in agreement that we will keep the status quo on healthcare in 2019 and 2020. That’s great, because our premiums are currently $367.80 per month less than what the average worker pays for similar healthcare. The disagreement here lies in whether we bargain a 2-year or 4-year contract. Management is proposing a 4 year contract with the option to renegotiate on healthcare costs after 2 years. That’s a sign they expect to ask for higher premiums in 2021.
We’re moving management in the right direction because members have taken action, purpled up, and asked their coworkers to sign membership cards. Together, we’re making progress toward a contract that will have a big impact on our lives.
Progress towards creating healthy worksites!
This week we were also able to reach an agreement on an issue we heard about from many SEIU members — bully bosses. Over the next year every agency will work together with local union leadership to develop an internal complaint process specifically for workers experiencing bullying at work. We have been talking about this issue at bargaining for many years so it’s really exciting to report this progress!
Current status of bargaining proposals: Updated July 11
Term of Agreement
- Union proposal: 2-year term expiring 6/30/21
- Management current proposal: 4-year term expiring 6/3/23 and economic re-opener 6/30/21
- Management initial proposal: 4-year term expiring 6/3/23 and eEconomic re-opener 6/30/21
Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)
- Union proposal: 3% increase effective July 1, 2019 and 2.5% increase effective July 1, 2020
- Management current proposal: 2% increase effective 7/1/19. 2% increase effective 7/1/20. No COLAs guaranteed in years 3 and 4.
- Management initial proposal: 1.68% increase effective 7/1/19. 1% increase effective 7/1/20. No COLAs guaranteed in years 3 and 4
Steps
- Union proposal: 1 additional step added to each salary range 7/1/19. Steps in every year of the contract
- Management current proposal: 1 additional step added to each salary range 7/1/20. Steps in year 1 and 2. No guarantee of steps in years 3 and 4.
- Management initial proposal: No additional step. Steps in year 1 and 2. No guarantee of steps in years 3 and 4
Health Insurance
- Union proposal: No increase to health insurance premiums for duration of contract.
- Management current proposal: Status quo on health insurance premium share rates for years 1 and 2. Bargain premium share rates for years 3 and 4.
- Management initial proposal: Status quo on health insurance premium share rates for years 1 and 2. Bargain premium share rates for years 3 and 4.
Longevity
- Union proposal: All workers “topped out” for more than 10 years will get a step on 7/1/19.
- Management current proposal: No proposal.
- Management initial proposal: No proposal.
Salary Floor
- Union proposal: Create full salary ranges for our lowest-paid workers who are in ranges with fewer than 9 steps.
- Management current proposal: No proposal.
- Management initial proposal: No proposal.
Child Welfare Caseload Solutions
- Union proposal: 5% differential when caseload is in excess of workload model up to 150%. 10% differential when caseload is in excess of 150% of the caseload model.
- Management current proposal: No proposal.
- Management initial proposal: No proposal.