Federation of Public Health and Human Services, Local 4573, 2015-2017
Collective Bargaining Agreement
Your local union leaders have just completed the negotiations on our Collective Bargaining Agreement with DPHHS. Thank your bargaining team members for their time and effort on behalf of every member of our local:
DeAnn Caussyn, HCSD-Helena, Shop Steward DCaussyn@mt.gov
Julianna Crowley, HCSD-Missoula, Vice President JCrowley@mt.gov
Monique England, BFSD-Helena, Shop Steward MEngland@mt.gov
Tawnya Galland, CSED-Billings, Vice President TGalland@mt.gov
Gina Schwartz, DDS-Helena, Secretary Gina.Schwartz@ssa.gov
Dena Helman, CSED-Butte, Vice President DHelman2@mt.gov
Renne’t Sarbu, HCS-Helena, Treasurer ReSarbu@mt.gov
Jill Cohenour, PHS- Helena, President JCohenour@mt.gov
Brian Ehli, Field Consultant from MEA-MFT BEhli@mea-mft.org
You should have received and email with one document including the following:
061-Tentative Agreement 2015 which contains the Language items that will be added to our Collective Bargaining Agreement upon ratification, including the pay increases for January 2016 and January 2017 plus the 10%/8% Health insurance premium increase. Management and the team agreed to language for a new and innovative hiring process to give our members the very best chance to attain their career goals. We also agreed to language addressing; working through your lunch break, union communication with our new members, and requiring notification to the Local for any NEW requirement for Background Checks on current employees.
If you wish to compare the attached language items to the current contract language, go to this link-
MEA-MFT- All Eligible Central Office Employees (061)
Pay increases are:
1. All members receive $0.50 increase retroactive to the first full pay period January 2016.
2. All members receive $0.50 increase the first full pay period in January 2017
3. 10% increase 2016 and 8% increase in 2017 for the state contributions to Health Insurance Premiums.
Voting process-------
1. Your anonymous vote will be recorded through Survey Monkey by a SECOND e-mail following this one.
2. That e-mail will take you to the voting ballot.
3. Do not forward the link. Vote from your state computer only or the link will be disabled.
4. If you have questions please contact Jill Cohenour at Jcohenour@mt.gov or 444-5261.
5. You may have to OPT IN to Survey Monkey, if you had previously opted out, in order to vote. If you are unable to vote from the link and need to opt in go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/
Your team has worked hard and asks that you support this negotiated agreement.
Please contact any one of the team members if you have questions about this agreement
Please visit our new website at: http://dphhs4573.mt.aft.org and sign up for membership
And Like our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/
History of 2015 Bargaining
Legislative Appropriation
As part of a final agreement with the Governor, in the waning days of the 2015 session, the Legislature did approve money in House Bill 2 to fund an increase in base wages for all state employees and an increase in insurance contributions. They had killed the State Employee pay bill, House Bill 13, earlier in the session.
MEA-MFT, and many of your co-workers, worked hard to contact Legislators on behalf of our members to provide for the wage increase and to provide for an increase in our Insurance contributions. We appreciate those that took their lunch hour, many days, over at the Capital to advocate for wages and benefits for our local members.
Local 4573 Bargaining
We began bargaining in August with a two day bargaining session. We continued in September, November, and concluded in December 2015.
We placed proposals on the table addressing many issues that were brought forward by our members including Pay Progression, Background checks, Union release time, Communications, Access, and additional language addressing Bullying in the workplace. We also asked for information from the department about Division budgets to see if there was any ability to fund pilot Pay Progression/Career Ladders in programs where our members work.
We were not able to get everything that we proposed, but the Bargaining teams for Management and the Federation did agree on several changes to our contract that will improve the work environment and career goals of our members. We added language on Background checks and agreed to additional release time for members wishing to attend the Annual MEA-MFT Representative Assembly, as well as dealing with issues surrounding assisting clients during your lunch.
There is a continued commitment to discussions on Pay Progression/ Career Ladders with the Department but due to budget issues, we will be working on only some specific areas. We will also be encouraging the Statewide Economic Negotiations Team to take up this issue in their negotiations with the Governor.
Although we did not add language around Bullying, the policies included in our contract; Employee conduct, Non-Discrimination, and Harassment do cover this issue. The department will be creating a reporting procedure that we will communicate to you as soon as it is available.
Employee Conduct Policy
Section D. Willful, Intended or Threatened Injury to another Person; Disrespect, Aggressive or Abusive Behavior. Employees shall maintain a courteous, respectful and otherwise acceptable working relationship with coworkers, peers, supervisors, and the general public. Employees shall resolve work-related issues and disputes in a professional manner
and through established business practices.
We concluded our negotiations with the department on the 17th of December and now have placed the ratification of the contract in your hands. We have the potential to help drive the philosophy of the department and we hope that you all will be involved and participate in improving your own work environment by standing with your Local union representatives. Please support the negotiated agreement by voting “YES”.