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l A General Wage Increase—Effective July 1, 2008, an increase of 2% for all unit employees.

l Step Increases—All eligible employees will receive their merit step increases for FY 2009.

l Deferred Compensation—All employees currently eligible may continue to participate in the deferred compensation plan in which the State matches up to $600 in employee contributions.

l Extra Payday Without Healthcare Deductions— Employees will only have healthcare deductions taken out of 23 instead of the usual 24 paychecks in this coming year.

l Annual Leave Carryover— Employees may now carry up to 75 days or 600 hours of annual leave without a loss at year’s end. This was 50 days and 400 hours (effective July 1, 2008).

l Labor Management Committees (LMC)—Written authorization for the resumption of LMC meetings to resolve concerns at local, departmental and statewide levels.

l Economic Reopener— An opportunity to negotiate an even larger pay increase in September of 2008 during the second year of the agreement should the State’s financial condition improve.

l Disability Policies— Agreement to negotiate over possible implementation of long-term and short-term disability policies for employees.

l Acting Capacity Pay— Employees doing a job, but not qualified for permanent promotion, will receive pay commensurate with that position.

l Leave Conversion—Any leave taken as liberal leave within two hours of the State closing for an emergency, will be converted to administrative leave.

l Bilingual Pay Doubled— Employees who are asked to use their language skills will now be paid $25 per pay period instead of $25 per month.

l Sick Leave Reduction Goal—The union will represent employees in a LMC to discuss any possible changes to sick leave usage before they can be made.

l Dependent Coverage Increased—Dependents of current employees will now be covered under the State’s healthcare plans until age 25.

l Health Plan Benefits Maintained Intact—The State will continue to provide the same programs and maintain the same practices as are currently in effect.

l Additional Leave For Interviews—An employee who interviews for a State position will receive additional leave up to eight hours for travel and interviews or exams when over 50 miles.

   The agreement is subject to ratification by all employees of Units G and E before it is in effect. AFT Healthcare and MPEC will send ratification ballots in the near future.

   Perhaps as significant as the above benefits, is the fact that this administration has negotiated in good faith, as required by law, and reached agreement with the employees’ Union on a contract for the first time in four years.

Only through struggle can progress be made.