Respectful Workplace MOU
We’d like to share an exciting update about our bargaining progress. Our post session meetings with the employer continue to be very productive. We have reached agreement on several subjects, and continue to work through the last remaining articles. Out of the last few meetings we made significant progress on an issue that has been a major priority for this unit, Rule 27 and Respectful Workplace policies and procedures.
As many of you know, the Legislature has hired a new Legislative Equity Officer, who will be starting this month. The Legislature intends to work with the new LEO to update Rule 27. For years, LAs have been living with the consequences of policies and procedures developed without our voice and often without thought for our experiences. We have seen and experienced the problems that arise when the employer develops unilateral procedures, and the benefits that arise from working with employees to develop workplace policy. The Union has been fighting at the table to push for changes to Rule 27 and to ensure that LAs have a voice in shaping those changes.
At the bargaining table, we have reached an agreement with the Employer to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Rule 27 and the Respectful Workplace policy. This MOU will create a joint committee of the Union and the Employer, to work with the new LEO to develop recommendations for changes to Rule 27. This committee will finally give employees the voice we deserve in developing one of the most impactful policies to our work and our lives.
This MOU will take effect as soon as it is signed by the Presiding Officers, meaning that this work can begin before the rest of the contract is finalized and voted on. This topic is of tremendous importance to our unit, and we are very excited to be making progress.
Compensation and Paid Leave Update from the Legislature
We understand a message was sent out to legislative staff today regarding COLA, Paid Leave, Bonuses and Market Analyses. At nearly the same time this message was sent to legislative employees the assembly made their first proposal of a similar wage increase. Our next meeting with the legislature is on August 29th when we plan to respond to the proposal.
Bargaining Update
As of today there remains 7 articles that we are still negotiating. Those articles are:
- Recognition
- Safety and Health
- Retirement Savings
- Salary
- Wage Scale
- No Strike
- Duration
We have previously made proposals on all of the above topics and received counters this afternoon from the legislature. Our next meeting is scheduled for August 29th and 30th and we are planning to respond to all of the counters.
In Solidarity,
IBEW Local 89