CWA/DE State 911 Dispatchers Bargaining Report #1

CWA opened contract negotiations with the DSHS today. After general introductions and sharing a mutual interest in reaching a satisfactory conclusion to our negotiations by June 30, 2016, the Union presented the State’s bargaining team with a list of proposals, including:

• a general wage increase in each of the next three years beginning July 1, 2016;

• employment longevity increases and recognition awards;

• increase in the pay for the Telecommunications Shift Supervisor;

• establish a differential payment for those temporarily assigned to Shift Supervisor duties;

• increase the annual Shift Differential payment amount;

• improve vacation accrual for those with 20 years and above;

• improve On-Call stipend and establish a stipend for those who experience an on-call assignment more than one time in a month;

• improve payment to those called into work on a non-scheduled Holiday;

• specify the “two days” observed as Holidays at Christmas;

• improve the Sick Leave payout at retirement and layoff.

While the State presented no formal proposals at today’s meeting, they did indicate an interest in modifications to the Parental Leave policy and reducing the number of sick days requiring a doctor’s note from 5 to 3.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 2nd.