LOCAL 230—Associate Court Officers
Service Information for Mother of Vice President John Serra
Local 230 offers its heartfelt condolences to Vice President John Serra, whose mother passed away Monday, December 5th.
Maria G. (Giangregorio) Serra, of Medford, formerly of the North End, with her family by her side passed peacefully on Monday morning. She was 79.
Maria was born and raised in Boston’s North End, the daughter of the late John and the late Maria Sofia (Chiozzi) Giangregorio. A Medford resident for many years, Maria was a member of the Greater Boston Association for Retarded Citizens with her late husband Dominic for over 35 years. She loved to cook and especially bake cakes for her family and friends. She was loved by many and will be sadly missed.
The wife of the late Dominic C. Serra, she is survived by her daughter Donna Serra-Moore and her husband Harold of Medford, Gina Serra also of Medford and John Serra and his wife Maria of Everett. She leaves her granddaughters Sofia and Stella Serra, both of Everett. She was also a grandmother to Jennifer Milliner of MA, Victor Moore and Daniel Murphy of ME, Kristine and Dave Deitsch of NH, Brian Moore of NH and she also leaves 8 great-grandchildren.
Family and friends may visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Thursday from 4 thru 8 PM. Funeral procession will gather Friday December 9th at 8 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 AM in Saint Joseph Church, 118 High Street, Medford. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
Governor Signs Budget Bill Implementing Raise and Retro $$
October 28, 2011
Governor Patrick has signed the supplemental budget bill approving the contract between NAGE and the Trial Court for ALL NAGE Trial Court members.
The Trial Court has informed us that the 1% raise will be implemented in this pay period, which ends on November 4th, and will be reflected in your November 10th paycheck. The full schedule for this raise and retro payments is as follows:
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Payment |
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Paycheck date |
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1% raise implemented this pay period |
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11/10/2011 |
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FY2011 Retro (7/1/2010 – 6/30/2011)* |
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11/25/2011 |
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FY2012 Retro (7/1/2011 – 10/21/2011)* |
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12/9/2011 |
*The Trial Court has indicated that the retro money for FY11 and FY12 must be made in two separate payments, which is why you will receive the first retro payment (for FY11) on November 25th, and the second retro payment (for FY12) on December 9th.
NAGE and Trial Court Members Testify for Group 4 Bill
October 19, 2011
NAGE lobbyists and Trial Court members testified yesterday at the State House on behalf of House Bill 690, which would move associate probation officers, probation officers, assistant chief probation officers, probation officers-incharge, day reporting center probation officers, first assistant chief probation officers, court officers I, court officers II, assistant chief court officers, associate court officers, and court officers-in-charge into Group 4 retirement.
Probation Officer Emilio Cruz and Court Officer Richie Linehan offered firsthand testimony to the Joint Committee on Public Service about the danger they face and the toll it takes on court personnel.
Cruz testified, “Probation Officers, while visiting probationers’ homes, are not certain what they would face once the door is open.”
Linehan testified, “We are the critical link between the police and correction officers. We deal with the same people but don’t have the same protections.”
“We have a strong case for moving our Trial Court members into Group 4,” said NAGE lobbyist Jim Redmond, who attended the hearing. “We believe that legislators recognize that and we’re doing everything we can to see that our court members get the fair treatment in retirement that they deserve.”
Read Local 228 President David Abbott's letter to the Public Service Committee
NAGE-Negotiated 5th Week of Vacation after 17.5 Years Set for Implementation
August 23, 2011
As you may know, NAGE negotiated in the most recent contract a provision to give a fifth week of vacation to employees with 17.5 years or more of service.
NAGE fought for this improvement in the contract language to grant members eligibility for a fifth week of vacation after 17.5 years instead of 19.5 years.
The improved language is effective as of July 4, 2011. (Per MGL Chapter 150E, non-incremental cost items do not require legislative approval.)
Within the next two weeks, the Trial Court will be adjusting affected employees’ vacation earnings rate and will calculate vacation days owed.
Legislature Approves Court Management Bill
August 1, 2011
After weeks of negotiation, the House and Senate agreed to a compromise bill that will establish a civilian court administrator to manage Trial Court business operations.
Throughout the legislative process, NAGE worked hard to strengthen collective bargaining language within the bill to ensure that our Trial Court members would be protected under the new law.
We are happy to report that the final conference report that was approved by the House and Senate reflects NAGE’s efforts by the inclusion of several language improvements and clarifications.
The legislation is now before the governor awaiting his approval or further modification.
Please stay tuned for more updates as the legislative process continues.
Read the full text of the bill
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
WAGE INCREASES TOTALING 10%
Memorandum of Agreement (Effective July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008)
3% increase effective 01/01/12*
Memorandum of Agreement (Effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012)
1% increase effective 6/30/10 with retroactive payment of the increase
3% increase effective 01/01/12*
3% increase effective 06/30/12
* The 3% and 3% increases (total 6%) effective January 1, 2012 could be made effective sooner than January 1, 2012. As with all contracts, the timing of increases is heavily dependent on supplemental funding. If we are successful in lobbying the legislature to pass a supplemental funding bill, we will receive the 6% increase sooner than January 1, 2012. It will take all of us lobbying our legislators to make this happen. We will contact you as soon as possible with information about lobbying for the supplemental budget bill.
INCREASED UNIFORM ALLOWANCE
Employer agrees to increase the uniform allowance by $25 effective February 2012.
IMPROVEMENT IN VACATION LANGUAGE
Employees will be eligible for a 5th week of vacation upon reaching 17.5 years of service instead of upon reaching 19.5 years of service.
PROTECTIVE LANGUAGE CONCERNING EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS
An Employee Performance Review instrument will not be implemented without impact bargaining, and will not be implemented until such time as a Management Performance Review instrument is implemented for all managers.
INCREASED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION TO THE NAGE/TRIAL COURT HEALTH & WELFARE TRUST FUND
The Commonwealth will increase its contribution to the NAGE Health & Welfare Trust Fund to maintain existing benefit levels. The Trust Fund provides benefits such as dental, optical, and dependent care coverage.
Never Forget Your Union Rights on the Job: "Weingarten Rights"
Most employees think it could never happen to them, but ... if you are ever called into an interview meeting with your supervisor or manager so that they can investigate a situation that might result in discipline, you have specific representational rights. These rights are called Weingarten Rights and are based on a 1975 Supreme Court decision (NLRB v. J. Weingarten).
WEINGARTEN RULES TO REMEMBER
Under the Supreme Court’s Weingarten decision, when an investigatory interview occurs, the following rules apply:
RULE 1: You have the right to have a union steward or union representative present, and you have the right to speak privately with your representative before the meeting and during the meeting. Your steward has the right to play an active role in the meeting and is not just a witness.
You must make a clear request for union representation before or during the interview; management is not obligated to inform you of your right to representation.
If your manager refuses to allow you to bring a representative, do not refuse to attend the meeting, but do not answer any questions either. Take notes. Once the meeting is over call your representative at once.
RULE 2: After you make the request, your supervisor or manager can do one of three things:
1. Grant the request and delay questioning until your union representative arrives and has a chance to consult privately with you; or
2. Deny the request and end the interview immediately; or
3. Give you a choice of (a) having the interview without your union rep or (b) ending the interview.
RULE 3: If your request for union representation is denied and your manager/supervisor continues to ask you questions, he or she is committing an unfair labor practice and you have a right to refuse to answer. Your manager or supervisor may not discipline you for such a refusal.
This statement could save your job!
"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated I respectfully request that my steward be present at the meeting. Without representation present, I choose not to respond to any questions or statements."
Seniority List October 2010
If you believe the date the Trial Court has for your seniority is incorrect, please fill out the appeal form (below), and send the form and a copy of corroborating evidence (e.g., appointment letter, promotion letter) to the address on the appeal form, or fax it to .
Associate Court Officers Seniority
Associate Court Officer Seniority Instructions
Associate Court Officer Seniority Appeal Form