Core collective bargaining agreement secured to raise wages 2.5% plus steps for all members of coalition bargaining units.
In 2022, coalition leaders and local negotiation team members worked tirelessly to win a fair four-year contract that delivered wage increases, step advancements and lump sums and began undoing years of sacrifices state workers made to protect residents and businesses from austerity budgets. Since then, the average union member have benefited from an almost 15% increases in wages - and that doesn’t even include the wage and step re-opener in the fourth year, starting in July of 2024.
But there is much more to be done. We continue to face a service crisis due to recruitment and retention lapses at many of our work sites. We have full contract negotiations beginning in 2025, and pension and healthcare negotiations coming up soon with the expiration of the current master SEBAC agreement in 2027.
With that in mind, it made sense to resolve this year’s Reopener as quickly as possible in time for legislative approval prior to the July 1, 2024, effective date. That would empower us to continue efforts on recruiting and retaining the highest quality public sector workforce as we turn our sights onto our full contract negotiations kicking off next year. To that end, we were able to secure the following framework for all of SEBAC’s constituent units:
Wage Increases for 2024/2025: a fourth year of 2.5% general wage increases
A step increase (or 2% in lieu of step for non-step units): Top step payments in lieu of steps are included, where applicable. This is aligned with the previous increases in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as well as with the NP-1 State Police unit whose 2022-2025 agreement included a 2.5% general wage increase, plus step, for July of 2024.
Meanwhile, local bargaining teams have worked within this framework to finalize tentative agreements which will be sent out for membership ratification, the Lamont Administration has reaffirmed commitments with respect to Objective Job Evaluation, and Coalition leaders and Lamont Administration officials have agreed to adapt the joint Transformation Process to explore other ongoing issues about recruiting and retaining the workforce that all residents and businesses rely on including exploring obstacles like lack of paid bonding leave, and difficulties purchasing prior military service for new employees.
Our state’s working families - and our economy - depend upon a strong, stable, and effective public service workforce. That is only possible with fair pay, decent benefits, and respect for the voices of those on the front lines. Reaching agreement on this reopener is just one small step in an ongoing effort by our coalition to secure real solutions for our members and the communities we serve.
