Negotiating with the State of Iowa in the midst of a budget crisis and the worst recession in decades, the members of UE Local 893 – Iowa United Professionals still managed to negotiate a new two-year agreement that provided modest gains. Members of both the social services and science bargaining units ratified the new contract on February 26 by margins of more than 20 to 1. The new agreement goes into effect on July 1, 2009.
There will be no general wage increase this year, a 2 percent increase on July 1, 2010, and a 1 percent increase on January 1, 2011. However, workers not yet at the top of the pay scale for their classifications will still receive automatic 4.5 percent increases each year. This includes 59 percent of the workers in the bargaining unit.
Effective July 1, 2009, the state agreed to match employee contributions to their Section 457 savings plan at a $1 to $1 ratio, up to a maximum of $75 per month. Previously the employer matched $1 for each $2 contributed by the employee. In addition to the savings plan, these workers are covered by the state’s defined benefit pension.
Employees in the social services unit gained the right to carry over up to 40 hours of unused paid personal leave to the next fiscal year, for a maximum use of 80 hours per year. Previously there was no such carry over; personal leave was provided on a “use it or lose it” basis each year.
Workers in both the social services and science unit won more control over the use of their vacation time when they also use family and medical leave provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Employees may choose to defer the use of up to two weeks (80 hours) of paid annual leave (vacation) while on FMLA leave. Previously a worker on extended FMLA leave could be required to use up all of his/her vacation while on FMLA leave.
Science unit employees will be paid 17.5 percent of their hourly rate of pay for all hours when they are on stand-by status. This is an increase from the old agreement, in which stand-by pay is only 10 percent.
Correctional counselors assigned to work a schedule outside of the boundaries of Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. will be paid a shift differential of 60 cents an hour, which is an increase from the 25 cents paid under the old agreement.
“I want to thank the bargaining committee for all their hard work in these difficult economic times,” said Local President Becky Dawes. “We were able to improve some language items as well as maintain status quo on insurance, which is important to our members. And we will have two general pay increases in this contract.”
The bargaining committee consisted of President Becky Dawes, Vice President Barb Adams, Financial Secretary Mary McElroy, Recording Secretary Beth Austin, Rosann Raymond, Sheila Thompson, Nancy McCard, Eric Evans,Cleo Hester, Mary Dobrochowski, Pat Morrissey, Tracey Frederick, Erica Ng, and Chris Clouse. They were assisted by UE International Rep. Greg Cross.