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Large Majority Ratifies Tentative Agreement

Voting in record numbers, a strong majority of SEA members has voted to accept a new contract that will help protect services during lean times for state government.

By a nearly three-to-one margin, members who returned ballots favored ratification of the tentative agreement. The final breakdown was 73 to 27 percent.

Members of the ballot counting committee sort through thousands of votes on the tentative agreement for a new contract for state employees.

"It was an interesting process, and members voted," said Tim Decker, the former SEA president who supervised the count. "Now we are going to move on with a new contract. Now it will hopefully get funded."

Volunteers met in the board room at SEA headquarters on May 31 to sort and count the thousands of ballots.

"It was a good crowd and we worked fast," said Avis Crane. "It took a lot more time to open the envelopes than it did to do the actual tallying, but it was a good, clean process."

Crane was happy with the outcome. "I'm personally satisfied with it. Everyone hoped we could have a better contract, but I really do think this is a decent one. It's a place to start and go forward."

 Cost-of-Living Increases

By July 1, 2006, pay rates for state employees would increase by 6 percent. The tentative agreement includes raises of 2 percent each on July 1, 2005, Jan. 1, 2006 and July 1, 2006. These would the first cost-of-living increases since 2002.

Importantly, health care for state employees and their families will be protected. In addition, an orthodontia benefit has been added for the first time, and although prescription co-pays increase slightly, employee prescription costs are capped for the first time.

Steve Whipple reaches into the ballot box for a handful ratification votes.

Significantly, a health care study committee will look for ways to reduce the costs of health care for state employees.

 Legislative Action

Marlene DeChane, a retired member and former legislator, knows that ratification is one step in the process.

"I'm satisfied that the members made their voices heard, and I hope it will be funded."

Now that it has been ratified by SEA members, funding for the contract has to be approved by the Legislature. The next step in the process is a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Employee Relations, scheduled for Friday, June 3, at 10 a.m. in rooms 210 and 211 at the Legislative Office Building. SEA members are encouraged to attend.