Purchasing Power

State Budget updateNo April Fools here. It’s April first and we are still waiting for a state budget to be enacted. Our understanding is that budget negotiations are in the final stages, and may be wrapped up by this weekend. The state is in a much more favorable fiscal situation thanks to the federal stimulus funding that should have erased most of the proposed cuts, but legislators are still trying to negotiate long-term solutions to future structural deficits. We will update you with budget analysis from our experts in CSEA’s Legislative and Political Action Department once a final budget is enacted.State Employees: what to know about contracts expiringI previously announced that we will not head to the bargaining table to negotiate our next contracts for our state employee bargaining units until the state has met its obligation under our current contract, which expires today, April 1. We have been assured that the 2 percent increase will be implemented very shortly followed by the retroactive payment. Also, increments and longevities for those entitled to them, will be paid in April. We will notify state workers as soon as we have been given details about payment.What this means is that for some time moving forward, we will be working under the terms of our expired contract. Although expired, the contract remains enforceable and binding.We have continued to prepare for the negotiations. We already have our negotiating team in place. As soon as we have received payment for the deferred wage increases, we will be getting you more information about the next steps of the process.Please be aware that contract negotiations take time and a great deal of effort, and we urge your support of your negotiating team throughout the process. Members will have the final say on whatever is negotiated through your vote.To make sure your members get the timeliest updates, please have them provide an updated personal (not work) email address by logging on to cseany.org, clicking on MY CSEA ACCOUNT in the dropdown menu, and selecting the menu items MAKE CHANGES>UPDATE EMAIL. We will not send contract information to work email addresses. ...