December 2023



 

Dec 12, 2023
Contract Funding Update

At long last, we are able to confirm the dates that your contractual raises and retro payments will be in your paychecks. NAGE advocated for our member's money to be in their checks as soon as possible, and we are pleased to report that the Healey Administration heard us, and has gotten it done. Both MassDOT and the Trial Court have confirmed that they will be following the Executive Branch's payment schedule. 

Please find the schedule below: 
 

• The July 2, 2023 salary increase will be included in the December 22, 2023 pay advice.
• Salary payments retroactive to July 2, 2023 will be included in the December 22, 2023 pay advice.
• Retroactive payments of the additional 1% increase on Step 14 will be included in the January 5, 2024 pay advice.

The January 14, 2024 salary increase will be included in the February 2, 2024 pay advice. A copy of the notice that was sent out from HRD can be found linked here for reference. 

If you have any questions on the payout schedule, please contact your HR representative. 

We would also like to thank Governor Healey for her swift action in getting the legislation signed as soon as it came across her desk. 
 

Jul 07, 2023

Executive Branch Contract Funding Information

June 2, 2023
Contract Ratification Results

First, we would like to thank all of our members who participated in the Contract Ratification. We received an outstanding turnout and are proud to have such high member involvement. 

Second, congratulations!

With a staggering 98.42% of the ballots voting to Approve the Proposed Successor Agreement, you have voted to ratify your 1-year successor agreement! This contract was hard fought, and we would not have been able to attain the parameters we did without the leadership of the Bargaining Team, the solidarity of the NAGE-led union coalition, or the Healey Administration.

The successor agreement MOU highlights are as follows:

• Two (2) 4% across-the-board pay increases. The first increase is effective July 2023, with the second following in January 2024. Due to compounding effect, the increases effectively total an 8.16% pay increase by January 2024.
• Additional funding that we negotiated will go toward other economic improvements for our membership. NAGE intends to use these funds for the following:
  • $3/week per member increases to the NAGE Health and Welfare Trust Fund to enhance benefits for our members, including doubling the Dependent Care benefit and significant increases to dental benefits.
  • For any member making under $50,000.00, minimum $2,000 raises for both the July ‘23 and January ‘24 raises, respectively.
  • A 1% increase to those at the max step on the pay scale, effective July 2023, which means their increase will be 9.2%* by January 2024. This increase is monumental, as even if you are not currently at Step 14, you will likely benefit from this provision in the future: when you do reach Step 14, it will then be 1% higher than it otherwise would have been without this provision. Step 14 will also most likely be the Step you are at upon your retirement, and thus what it is based on.

The Administration will now be filing a supplemental budget for funds to be appropriated by the legislature for the successor agreement. We will keep you updated as any new information becomes available. 

May 19, 2023
Successor Agreement Contract Ratification

The contract ratification vote for the Executive Branch is set to begin on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, via electronic ballot. Voting will run until Friday, June 2 at 9:00AM. If you do not receive a ballot by 12noon on May 24th, please reach out to Kelly Warner via email at kwarner@nage.org. 


I would like to thank the NAGE representatives and the Contract Negotiations Team who put forth an incredible effort to get this contract offer. 
 
This contract offer, which is the richest in the history of collective bargaining in this state, is the result of many things. First, political involvement is important: we elect our employers, and NAGE has been a longtime supporter of our current governor, Maura Healey. NAGE formed a coalition of state employee unions, led by EVP Theresa McGoldrick and Chief State Negotiator Kevin Preston, and worked hard to keep them together. The coalition asked NAGE President David Holway to be the lead negotiator and spokesperson in dealing with the new administration.
 
President Holway and the coalition leaders met with the Governor-elect and Lieutenant Governor-elect before they took office in December and outlined the financial harm done to state employees by the Baker years. After the Healey Administration took over, President Holway and the NAGE team sat down with the Secretary of Administration and Finance to hammer out a new contract. President Holway rejected the Commonwealth’s first offer and countered with what we are putting before you, which is what the Commonwealth accepted.
 
The fact that we have worked for years with Governor Healey and that she was open to free-flowing dialogue is a prime example of why political activism counts.
 
I would also like to note the fact that our coalition partners stuck together and sent a strong message that none of us would falter, further ensuring the success of this negotiation.  

In order to give you ample time to read over the successor agreement and weigh the pros and cons, we have provided it here for you. 

The successor agreement MOU highlights are as follows:

• Two (2) 4% across-the-board pay increases. The first increase is effective July 2023, with the second following in January 2024. Due to compounding effect, the increases effectively total an 8.16% pay increase by January 2024.
• Additional funding that we negotiated will go toward other economic improvements for our membership. NAGE intends to use these funds for the following:
  • $3/week per member increases to the NAGE Health and Welfare Trust Fund to enhance benefits for our members, including doubling the Dependent Care benefit and significant increases to dental benefits.
  • For any member making under $50,000.00, minimum $2,000 raises for both the July ‘23 and January ‘24 raises, respectively.
  • A 1% increase to those at the max step on the pay scale, effective July 2023, which means their increase will be 9.2%* by January 2024. This increase is monumental, as even if you are not currently at Step 14, you will likely benefit from this provision in the future: when you do reach Step 14, it will then be 1% higher than it otherwise would have been without this provision. Step 14 will also most likely be the Step you are at upon your retirement, and thus what it is based on.

I want to remind everyone that execution of these increases is subject to the legislative funding process, which may slow it down. However, NAGE will keep everyone up to date on when they should receive these increases.

If you have any questions on the MOA, please contact your Local President. 

*This number includes compounding.

Successor Agreement MOA can be found here. 

March 27, 2023
Action Required: GIC Annual Open Enrollment
 

The Group Insurance Commission (GIC) Open Enrollment period will begin on April 5, 2023, and end on May 3, 2023.

All plan changes must be submitted by May 3, 2023, with no exceptions.

Plan changes should be submitted through the GIC Employee Benefit Portal. Your portal is available 24/7 and includes several resources to aide you during this open enrollment period. Log into make benefit changes, view your current GIC benefits, and access the 2023-2024 Benefit Guide.
 

Log Into The Benefit Portal Here
 

Significant Changes for 2023-2024
 

Bargaining Team Election Results
Local 207 has voted to elect four members to the Contract Bargaining Team. The winners are below: 

1. Judy Bower, Sec. 6
2. Shawn Croke, Sec. 3
3. Stephanie Carter, Sec. 1
4. Peter Censullo, Sec. 2

Thank you for your participation and congratulations to our winners! 

Updated Use or Lose Deadlines - Executive Branch

GIC Update - St. Vincent's Hospital

• If you are not an HNE member, and do not intend to enroll with HNE during GIC's Annual Enrollment period for benefits effective July 1, 2022, you may disregard this message.
• Medicare participants may also disregard this message.
• For HNE members, or those who are considering enrolling in HNE for benefits effective July 1, 2022.
• If you live outside of the Worcester area, and/or have no plans to seek medical treatment at St. Vincent’s Hospital or with its affiliated providers, no action is required.
• If you selected HNE as your medical plan based on its inclusion of St. Vincent’s Hospital within HNE's network, you will have through May 4, 2022, to select a new GIC medical plan that includes that facility.
• Please note: It is possible that St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester may return to the HNE network, although there is no guarantee that this will occur, nor within any specific timeframe.
• HNE will continue to include other high-quality hospital providers in the Worcester area in their network such as UMass Memorial and Reliant Medical Group.
• If you wish to update your medical plan selection, for benefits effective July 1, 2022, as a result of this new information, you must make your change with the GIC during GIC's Annual Enrollment, which runs through May 4, 2022. For more information, please visit bit.ly/GICenrollment.

March 30, 2022
Executive Branch 2022 Training And Career Ladder Program - Update! 

Dear NAGE Member,
 
As you know, NAGE has negotiated the resources through the Training and Career Ladder program for our members. 

Please visit the Training and Career Ladder website for a full list of the programs and courses offered to NAGE members. 

If your selected courses take place during work hours, please communicate with your supervisor and ensure approval prior to registering for or attending courses. Agencies may approve or decline requests based on their operational needs.

 

For more information, click HERE.

 

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Mar 16, 2022

Update: NAGE Succeeds In Increasing Mileage Reimbursement

We are happy to announce that the Administration has responded favorably to our request to increase mileage reimbursement for NAGE members! As requested, the reimbursement has increased to 58.5 cents per mile, from the previous level of 45 cents per mile, effective March 20, 2022. NAGE is the first union to receive this agreement in the Commonwealth on behalf of our members.

NAGE would like to thank Governor Baker for his swift response to our request, to decrease the burden on our members who use their personal vehicles for work purposes. You can find the Mileage Reimbursement MOU linked below. 

Mileage Reimbursement Increase MOU

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NAGE has written to Secretary Heffernan, requesting that he authorize an increase to the mileage reimbursement for our members. NAGE is urging Secretary Heffernan to "exercise the powers granted to you by M.G.L. Chapter 30, Section 25 to authorize an increase in the mileage reimbursement rate to the Internal Revenue Service level of 58.5 cents per mile from the current level of 45 cents." 

The full letter can be found below. 

NAGE To Heffernan: Increase Mileage Reimbursement 

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Mar 4, 2022

NAGE Candidates for State Elections

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) has unanimously voted to endorse Attorney General Maura Healey in her campaign for Governor of Massachusetts. Read more HERE.

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) has unanimously voted to endorse State Senator Diana DiZoglio in her campaign for State Auditor of Massachusetts. Read more HERE.

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) has unanimously voted to endorse Shannon Liss-Riordan in her campaign for Attorney General of Massachusetts. Read more HERE.
 

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Feb 23, 2022

NAGE Election Survey Results

Earlier this month, NAGE surveyed all Massachusetts members on their thoughts about the upcoming elections. Thank you to the over 2,400 members who took the time to participate.

As promised, the results are linked HERE. 
 

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Dec 30, 2021

Use or Lose Time Extension

The Commonwealth has extended the Use or Lose Vacation and Personal Time deadlines for 2020 and 2021 for members of Units 1, 3, and 6. The information below details the exact dates Use or Lose Time will expire. 

HRD: Use or Lose Time Extension


3.9.21 MOU - Vacation and Personal Time "Use or Lose" Extension for  Units 1, 3, and 6

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Earlier this week, the Massachusetts State Legislature voted to extend the Emergency COVID 19 Sick Leave Program to April 1, 2022.  The program, which was created by the legislature earlier this summer, was set to expire on September 30th. 

In the wake of Governor Bakers vaccine mandate announcement, NAGE leadership advocated for the legislature to extend the program to ensure that members who needed the emergency time due to COVID would have access to it.  NAGE National President David Holway thanked the legislature for their quick action to ensure that our members can take the time they need and keep our workplaces as safe as possible. 

For more information on the COVID Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program please see the Commonwealth's page HERE.

Career and Training Ladder Reimbursement FY22

2021 Successor Agreement FAQ

Congratulations to the newly re-elected
Local 207 Executive Board!

NEWS
​Contract Update - Ratification Results

• 2% - including retro, to first payroll period in July 2020
• .5% - retro to first payroll period in July 2020, in exchange for settlement of our PFMLA case Because this settlement is a raise, as opposed to a one-time payment, it is far more valuable long-term. Please see FAQs on PFML settlement linked HERE
• 1.5% one-time COVID Recognition Payment upon signing the contract with a minimum payment of $1,000*
• 2% - first payroll period in July 2021 (calculated after the 2% and the .5% increases above have been applied) 
• 2% - first payroll period in July 2022 

NEWS
Executive Branch - Telework MOU

• Continued benefit of hybrid telework for members who are able and would like to perform duties remotely,
• The right for individuals members to appeal if telework has been fully revoked and the member has returned to office full time,
• Continued TTFWP for flexibility of time during telework,
• Agencies to establish reimbursement policies incurred while teleworking.

Telework MOU August 2021

Executive Branch - Hazard Pay MOU 

• Full-time employees directed to report to work in person during November 2, 2020 to May 29, 2021, who were not afforded the option of working remotely, shall receive a one time COVID-19 Hazardous Duty payment of $2,000. 
• Part-time or hybrid employees directed to report to work in person during November 2, 2020 to May 29, 2021 to provide direct care, public facing, public safety, cleaning and/or maintenance services shall receive a one time COVID-19 Hazardous Duty payment of $1,000. 

MA Emergency Paid Sick Leave Bill

• the equivalent of 5 days of paid time off to full-time employees (capped at a total of $850.00) for certain COVID-related absences from work;
• notice requirements for employees seeking to use Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (MEPSL); and 
• documentation requirements for employers seeking reimbursement of amounts paid under MEPSL. 

NAGE Members Deserve More Than Baker Is Offering

New Contract Available for Unit 6

Unit 6 Contract Information

Unit 6 Contract Effective July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2017

Unit 6 Successor Agreement Effective July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2014
Unit 6 Contract, Effective July 1, 2009-June 30, 2012
Unit 6 Code of Conduct
GPS Side Letter
MassDOT Master Labor Integration Agreement
 

Unit 6 Educational Assistance Program

Unit 6 Salary Charts

Unit 6 Salary Chart Effective first pay period January 2014