Unit 20

Unit 20 signs 10 TA’s but equity unresolved

Updated 3:10 p.m., June 28

On Tuesday, Unit 20 signed 10 tentative agreements but continued to face resistance from the state on all economic issues, including an equity package that benefits many members – especially the lowest paid healthcare workers. All the tentative agreements were language carried over from the 2006 contract with minor alterations. 

Despite the tentative agreements, many members of our team feel the state isn’t showing the respect state employees deserve. 

“The state is only willing to roll over some language from the last contract,” said Unit 20 Chair Rionna Jones “Any new language, they either reject or refuse to even respond to.”

“There’s arrogance about them as if it’s inconvenient for them to come here and bargain with state employees,” said Christina Freeman, a member of our Unit 21 bargaining team.

Unit 20 disappointed when state unprepared to negotiate

Updated 11:00 a.m., June 20

Unit 20 negotiators were disappointed on Thursday, when the state came to the table unprepared. “All they did was lecture us on how bad the budget is,” said Christina Freeman, Unit 20 bargaining team member. “And we already know that.”

Unit 20 negotiators did exchanged four proposals with the state, including one dealing with the voluntary personal leave program. This program helps special schools employees with additional leave time to help offset the number of hours used to cover Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer breaks and when docked for other holidays.

Unit 20 returns to the table Tuesday, June 24.

Unit 20 & state sign 14 tentative agreements

Updated 11:00 a.m., June 17

Unit 20 negotiators and the state signed 14 tentative agreements on Monday, including an important section that allows Unit 20 members to have 60 light/limited duty days as opposed to the usual 45 days. “This is important because it will provide more time for injuries to heal,” said Rionna Jones, Chair bargaining unit 20.

Six other proposals were exchanged with the state today.

“The state seems to be agreeable to language that doesn’t cost them anything,” said Patty Heynen, Unit 20 bargaining team member. “But they haven’t responded to any of our proposals on pay differentials.”

Unit 20 & state sign 13 tentative agreements

Updated 7:00 p.m., June 13

Unit 20 negotiators and the state signed 13 tentative agreements after a six-hour session on Friday, including a measure that allows most workers at state facilities to pick up their paychecks at any time during their shift. Under the current practice, many Unit 20 members have to wait until at least 3 p.m. on their pay day to pick up their checks – even if their shift ended earlier in the day.

The other 12 items were all contract language and guarantees carried over from the 2006 contract.

“This may not seem like a big deal, but to many Unit 20 members it really is,” said Rionna Jones, chair of Unit 20. “I’ve heard many complaints from our members especially at the Department of Mental Health where other bargaining units already have this convenience.”

Unit 20 Tentative Agreements

Bargaining Unit 20 Election Results