TO:                 Memo to all Grade 38 PS&T Members

 

DATE:            August 23, 2007

 

RE:                 Negotiations Update

 

We are currently at the bargaining table negotiating a successor contract to the 2003 – 2007 one.  Among the union proposals are two which only apply to those Grade 38 members of our unit.  This memo serves as both an update and a request for your support of your bargainers.

Our members at the Grade 38 level have the distinction of being the only full time employees in the PS&T unit who have a fixed job rate yet are disqualified for longevity award eligibility because the fixed rate is “unofficial”. Although the amount of money for a longevity award is small in contrast to the overall compensation of the salary grade the fundamental principle is large and we have a proposal on the contract table to correct the unfairness.

The second demand which impacts grade 38s is the one to correct the salary schedule which currently provides that the job rate of the grade 37 is higher than the job rate for the 38. Frankly the injustice is lesser than the longevity one because there are no state employees assigned to salary grade 37. Having said this, the matter should be corrected and this is a goal of ours.

In past negotiations each union team has attempted to fix these problems. We approach this bargaining differently and recognize the need to apply an added pressure to the state negotiators.  To succeed we believe it necessary that the employers of our Grade 38s – the commissioners and facility directors - must actively support our efforts to correct these problems.   As these are your supervisors and you hold one of the most respected positions in all of society we ask that you communicate your feelings on these matters. To this end, attached are draft letters.  For your convenience these are posted on line at www.pef.org. Simply click on PS&T CONTRACT and then the Scrolling text.

Please personalize, sign and send to your facility director and commissioner today!  Also, let your colleagues know of this campaign and ask that they take similar action!

In partnership we can accomplish our long sought goals and we appreciate all efforts to this end.

If you should have any questions or comments please let us know by sending us an e mail to PEFonline@pef.org.

Sincerely,