During ratification meetings conducted the first week of January, members voting in the Engineering, Science, and Resources
Bargaining Unit cast their votes 45% for ratification and 55% against. Based upon this democratic decision, our union developed and
presented to the State a last best offer. The State in turn developed and presented its last best offer not only on pay, but also sick leave,
overtime, holidays, the respect and dignity clause and several other contractual issues. Following the process contained in state law, the
Union and the State submitted all the unresolved issues to a Special Master, (commonly referred to as a fact finder). The law requires the
Special Master to "choose the most reasonable final offer on each issue in dispute." Peter Feuille, the Special Master selected by
NAPE/AFSCME and the State held a hearing on February 2, 2001 and on February 14, issued a split decision. Feuille ruled for the Union's
amended final offer on wages and other issues, and ruled for the State on sick leave and other benefits.
The following summaries pertain only to the members of the Engineering, Science, and Resources Bargaining Unit and cover the
issues that were submitted to the Special Master. Changes to other issues, like health insurance, are covered by the master agreement and
reported on elsewhere on this site.
Wages
The Special Master found the following Union proposal on
wages to be the most reasonable.
2.75% increase for all employees on July 1, 2001
3.00 % increase for all employees on July 1, 2002
2.5% step increase on January 1, 2002 and 203 for employees
who not at or above the maximum step for their pay grade.
Additionally, the Special Master agreed with the Union that
six classifications that are most below market according to both sides'
external comparisons should receive special adjustments. The
adjustments will be achieved by eliminating either one step (Chemist
II), two steps (Environmental Engineer II and III), or three steps
(Architect I and II and Game and Parks Recreational Planner) from
the start of the classification's pay grade, adding an equal number of
steps to the end of the classification's pay grade, and then ensuring
that the employees in these classifications will be placed at the same
step in the new pay grade that they occupied in the old pay grade.
The result will be that employees in classifications receiving a special
one-, two-, or three-step adjustment in this manner will receive an
additional 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 percent increase, respectively on July 1,
2001.
The State had proposed eliminating the step pay plan
contained in the current contract and establishing only a minimum
and maximum salary rate for each classification. The State also
proposed a 4% increase to each employee on January 1, 2002, and
another 4% increase to each employee on January 1, 2003.
Article 1: Preamble
Section 1.6 - The State proposed eliminating this section from the
contract. This section currently provides that the Agency shall ensure
"that all employees are equally treated with respect and dignity and
are afforded the right of privacy when being counseled on
performance issues."
The Special Master ruled against the State and the language
will remain in the contract.
Article 2: Recognition and Union Security
Section 2.12 - Contained in this section is language that allows the
Union access to the State's e-mail system to send Union notices to
state employees. The State proposed elimination this language and
the Special Master agreed with the State on this matter.
Article 5:Layoffs and Resignations
Sections 5.19-5.21 - The Union proposed a re-employment program
be implemented for employees who have been laid off. This program
will provide laid-off employees, who waiting to be recalled to their
former position will be given priority consideration for State
employment in positions they are qualified for. Even though the
State agreed to this language for the other bargaining units, it
proposed that no layoff pool language be included in the agreement
for the Engineering, Science, and Resources Bargaining Unit. The
Special Master ruled in the Union's favor and the language will be
included.
Article 7: Work Schedule
Section 7.13 - Governor Appointed Committees - The State
proposed to eliminate this section of the current contract which
addresses working conditions for employees appointed by the
Governor to committees, boards, or other bodies. This provision
provides that the time spent at meetings, including travel time shall be
considered hours worked. The Special Master ruled against the State
and the language will remain in the agreement.
Article 12: Overtime
Section 12.9 - The Special Master ruled in favor of the State's
proposal to eliminate the first sentence of this section that requires
that holidays be considered as work hours for overtime purposes.
Article 14: Authorized Leave
Section 14.1 - Holidays - The State proposed deleting Columbus
Day as a paid holiday for employees in the Engineering, Science, and
Resources Bargaining Unit. The Special Master ruled against the
State and Columbus Day will continue to be observed as a holiday by
all state employees.
Section 14.10 - Sick Leave - The State proposed and the Special
Master agreed to change the schedule for earning sick leave. All
employees in the Engineering, Science, and Resources Bargaining
Unit will earn 13.5 days of sick leave per year effective July 1, 2001.
Section 14.18 - Injury Leave - The State proposed eliminating this
section which provides paid injury leave for employees who are
injured on the job. The Special Master ruled against the State and
this provision will remain in the contract.
Section 14.25 - Advancement of Leave - The State proposed
eliminating this section, which allows an Agency Head to advance
vacation and sick leave to employees. The Special Master ruled
against the State.
Article 19: Classification Appeals
Sections 19.7-19.11 - The Special Master ruled against the State's
proposal to delete these sections, which creates the "Classification
Appeal Panel." If the State had prevailed on this proposal the State
Personnel Director would have had the final say in classification
appeals.
