The AFSCME Security Bargaining Unit membership recently voted in favor
of the settlement reached in negotiations against the St
By TIM
WOOLERY
Council
75 Corrections Coordinator
The AFSCME Security
bargaining unit membership recently voted overwhelmingly to ratify the
settlement reached in negotiations with the State of Oregon. A team of
Corrections members and Council staff meticulously counted ballots in the Salem
office, with the result being an approximately 97 percent "Yes" vote for
ratification. About 52 percent of the bargaining unit members returned ballots.
All provisions of the
contract went into effect on June 1, other than provisions that are otherwise
date specific (i.e. wage increase effective Dec. 1, 2013). The Department of
Administrative Services and Department of Corrections have estimated that they
will be able to complete necessary calculations for the retroactive payment
aspects in time for the July 1 paychecks. DOC Payroll has to individually
review each employee's work history and recalculate overtime and other
percentage of base pay to provide the proper compensation levels
negotiated. Base wages increased by 1.5 retroactive to Dec. 1 through the
current time, so five months plus June need to be reviewed and corrected.
Other factors such as the
increase in maximum vacation accrual, improved vacation sell-back provisions,
increased bereavement leave (for uncle, aunt, niece and nephew) and other
changes are now in place as well.
Here is a summary of the
contract highlights:
Wages — 1.5 percent increase retroactive to Dec. 1, 2013 and a 2
percent increase effective Dec. 1, 2014.
Lump Sum Payment — All AFSCME Security members will
receive a $200 cash payment in July 2014 (included in their Aug. 1, 2014
paycheck).
Steps — Regular step increases both years of the contract.
PERS
— No change to the 6 percent pick-up.
Insurance — Maintained the current 95/5 insurance premium share in
2014. In 2015, employees who choose to select the least cost plan
available to them will see their premium share drop to 97/3. Additionally,
information from our PEBB representative on the board shared that premiums
will not increase as much as already budgeted. Therefore the 2015
wage increase will be moved forward one month for each 1.6 percent savings
on premiums. We also added a new survivors insurance benefit for employees
killed on duty for the state to continue to provide family 12 months of
coverage.
Salary Step Slide — Agreed to apply the same "fix" that
other units accepted. Added language to ensure applicable transferring
employees from AOCE or AFSCME Security Plus would be included if they had
not yet received this.
Bereavement Leave — Increased paid leave for aunt, uncle,
niece and nephew from 8 hours to 24 hours per occurrence (the same as
other members of immediate family).
Rest Breaks — Improved language to better ensure breaks are
provided/received.
Staff Assault — Improved and clarified parties
interpretation of Article 33 (Staff Assault) supplementary benefits to
more liberally apply these benefits beyond employees directly assaulted to
include employees otherwise injured in the course of these types of events
on a case-by-case basis and upper level management review.
Vacation — Increased maximum accrual to 350 hours from 320.
Incorporated and improved vacation buy-back and matrix language for all
locals except PRCF. Buy-back is now reduced to requiring 40 hours in the
bank instead of 80, and the number of weeks that can be taken by lower
seniority staff was increased (three weeks at three years instead of
five).
Please do not hesitate to
contact the staff rep for your institution or myself (twoolery@oregonafscme.com) if you have any contract questions.
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