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INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS SCHEDULED Barnstable District Court Monday, March 15th 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. National Rep. Brian Conway (617-417-6413 cell) Fall River District Court Tuesday, March 16th 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. National Rep. Brian Conway (617-417-6413 cell) Hingham District Court Wednesday, March 17th 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. National Rep. Brian Conway (617-417-6413 cell) Gloucester District Court Wednesday, March 17th 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Westborough District Court Wednesday, March 17th Noon – 2:00 p.m. Dorchester District Court Thursday, March 18th 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Plymouth District Court Thursday, March 18th 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. National Rep. Brian Conway (617-417-6413 cell) Falmouth District Court Friday, March 19th 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. National Rep. Brian Conway (617-417-6413 cell) East Brookfield District Court Friday, March 19th Noon – 2:00 p.m. |
Trial Court Steward Training April 9, 2010
March 8, 2010
If your court is not represented by a steward and you would like to get involved, please contact us. NAGE and the Trial Court Executive Boards want to hear from you. Please contact a National Representative or Laurie Connors BEFORE April 1, 2010.
| WHEN: | April 9, 2010, 8:30am to 3:30pm |
| WHERE: | Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites 265 Lakeside Avenue (Route 20) Marlborough, MA 01752 |
National Representative Contact Information
| Brian Conway | bconway@nage.org | 617-376-7248 |
| Larry Cargill | lcargill@nage.org | 508-755-6221 x223 |
| Garrett Mahoney | gmahoney@nage.org | 508-755-6221 x233 |
| Laurie Connors | lconnors@nage.org | 617-376-7286 |
Thank you—-we hope to see you at the meeting.
NAGE National President Holway Testifies on Probation Transfer Bill
March 3, 2010
NAGE National President David J. Holway appeared at a crowded March 2nd legislative hearing to tell lawmakers that the governor's proposal to transfer control of adult probation services from the Trial Court to the executive branch "raises more questions than it answers."
President Holway flew in from Washington, D.C., where he had been scheduled to attend other meetings, to appear before members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. "We met with members of the administration to learn more about the details of the bill, but we still don't have answers to many of the questions our members have," he told the committee.
"What would happen to juvenile and probate probation under this bill?" President Holway asked, citing one of the many questions from the union's online survey of probation members. "Who would present at court at surrender hearings if we're moved out of the court system? How would job duties change? These are just a few of the questions our members are asking, and that are not answered, in this bill."
"On behalf of our probation officers, we ask you to move slowly on this bill, and to work with us to find answers to these questions," President Holway urged.
Secretary of Public Safety Mary Elizabeth Heffernan testified in support of the governor's transfer bill. First Deputy Commissioner of Probation Elizabeth Tavares testified against the bill, as did Robert Mulligan, chief justice for administration and management.
Chief Justice Mulligan cited the potential move of probation officers into the Group 4 retirement classification as reason to vote against the bill, because of the increased burden on the state retirement fund. When President Holway testified, he criticized the chief justice for suggesting that probation officers shouldn't be moved to Group 4.
"Our Trial Court members deserve the protection of Group 4, and I it's wrong for the chief justice to say otherwise."
Contract Negotiations Update
March 2, 2010
Your bargaining committee has just completed the latest contract negotiating session with representatives of the Trial Court. We are hopeful and optimistic that negotiations will yield contracts covering us from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012.
We presented two contracts to the Trial Court today; contract one covers FY 2008 and 2009 (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009); contract two covers FY 2010, 2011 and 2012 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012). The details are as follows:
CONTRACT ONE
July 1, 2007-June 30, 2009
- 3% increase retroactive to July 1, 2007
- Eighth step for those classifications that now have only seven steps
- Re-opener for second year
CONTRACT TWO
July 1, 2009-June 30, 2012
- 1% increase on June 30, 2010
- 3% increase on June 30, 2011
- 3% increase on June 30, 2012
- Potential to move dates for these increases to three or six months earlier in each year if state revenues reach certain targets
The wage increases in the second contract mirror those agreed to by the administration and the locals representing executive branch employees, so we are confident that the wage packages in our proposals will be acceptable to the administration and the legislature.
Because the Trial Court insists that an evaluation procedure be included in any agreement between NAGE and the Trial Court, we submitted a counter-proposed evaluation procedure as part of our settlement offer. The evaluation procedure would go into effect only when our contracts are funded by the legislature and evaluation procedures are in place and operating for all other Trial Court employees. The evaluation procedure the union offered is not attached to wages, discipline, promotions, and/or assignments.
We are awaiting the Trial Court's response to our offers of settlement. In the meantime, we have a bargaining session scheduled for March 16.
NAGE will alert you as soon as there are any further developments in negotiations.
Hearing Scheduled for March 2 on Probation Transfer Bill
February 24, 2010
The state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at the State House, Room A-2. They may hear testimony on the governor’s proposal to transfer control of adult probation from the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to the Executive Office of Public Safety.
As it is now written, the 99-page HB 4446 raises more questions than it answers. The bill is unclear on a number of important issues affecting probation officers’ safety, rights, retirement status and more. Although representatives from NAGE and the probation locals have met with the administration to learn more about the proposal, they were unable to answer our questions. We therefore hesitate to endorse or oppose the bill until the answers to these and other questions are available.
The NAGE legislative team and members of the probation executive boards will attend the hearing. What do YOU think about the proposal? You can submit your comments here .
Please take a moment to respond to the survey. It’s your future—we need to hear from you! If you have any questions, please contact your local executive board members.
GIC Benefit Changes for February 1, 2010
December 11, 2009
The state’s Group Insurance Commission will implement a range of benefit changes effective February 1, 2010, in order to help close a projected $35 million deficit for FY2010. The changes are listed below.
Please understand that NAGE does not “allow changes,” negotiate with the GIC, or have any control over the GIC’s actions. We cannot negotiate over premiums, co-pays, deductibles. The legislature determines the premium split. NAGE will continue to lobby the legislature to hold down your premium costs, as we always have.
The GIC said on its website that premiums for state employees and Non-Medicare retirees will go down from approximately $6 to $17 per month, depending on your health plan and whether you have individual or family coverage and when you were hired (on or before June 30, 2003). Details on the new premium rates will also be on the GIC’s website.
Benefit Changes Effective February 1, 2010:
- Primary Care Physician Office Visit Copay: $5 increase across all tiers
- Specialist Office Visit Copay: $5 increase across all tiers
- Retail Clinic Copay: $5 increase
- Physical Therapy, Chiropractic and Occupational Therapy Copay: $5 increase
- Outpatient Surgery Copay: $10 increase
- Hi-tech Imaging Copay: $25 increase
- Emergency Room Copay: $25 increase
- Mental Health/Substance Abuse Outpatient Visit Copay: $5 increase
- New deductible for all plans: $250 individual coverage/$750 family coverage; deductible will not be applied to office visits, mental health/substance abuse benefits and prescription drug benefits. Ancillary tests and procedures performed at an office visit are subject to the deductible.
It is not known at this time whether these changes will carry into FY11. Additional details about health plan benefits for FY11 will be included in your GIC Benefit Decision Guide, which is delivered before annual enrollment, April 12-May 10, 2010. Annual enrollment gives you the opportunity to change health plans if you wish.
Please see the health plan area of the GIC website for additional details about the benefit changes. Your health plan will also send you a letter with updates to your plan handbook.
