State reaches contract
agreement with Unit 13
The State has reached a
tentative agreement with Bargaining Unit 13, represented by the International
Union of Operating Engineers. The agreement, which covers roughly
900 plant operations and building maintenance employees, runs from July
1, 2006,
through June 30, 2008. The unit's last contract expired July 2, 2003.
Key provisions include a 3.5
percent cost-of-living adjustment effective July 1, 2006, and a second COLA on July 1, 2007, of 2-4 percent, based on the consumer price index.
The State will also grant a one-time payment of $1,000 to all employees covered
by the agreement. The last raise for these employees was July 1, 2003.
Other key provisions of the
new agreement:
·
Pension benefits for new State employees
will be based on their highest three-year average salary, rather than the
highest single year that applies to current employees.
·
New employees who enroll dependents under their State
health plan will be subject to a two-year vesting period before they qualify
for the full employer health contribution for dependent coverage.1
·
The State's contribution to employee
health premiums will be increased effective July 1, 2006, and again on Jan. 1, 2007, and Jan. 1, 2008, to a dollar amount that equals 80 percent of the average
CalPERS-approved premium for that year.
·
Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, specified
employees who are State certified in water and wastewater plant operations at
the highest levels will receive a monthly 4% pay differential, while the
current differential for specified chief plant operators will increase from 5%
to 6%. These differentials help keep these critical positions filled and ensure
the personnel have the required expertise.
The tentative agreement now
goes to the Legislature and union membership for ratification.
Click here for a
summary.
DPA creates
and administers compensation, benefits, training programs, and the
classification plan, and advocates for the interests of the State employer.
