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Alaska Department of Administration

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No.13-03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASEA-GGU, APEA-SU and APEA-CEA Reach Tentative Agreements with State

March 15, 2013, Juneau, AK – The State of Alaska’s Department of Administration has reached tentative agreements with the Alaska State Employees Association – General Government Unit (GGU), the Alaska Public Employees Association – Supervisory Unit (SU) and the Confidential Employees Association (CEA) on three-year contracts covering the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016 for each union.  Monetary terms for the agreements must be approved by the Alaska State Legislature and the contracts must be ratified by union membership.

“The state’s responsibility in this contract cycle was to negotiate labor contracts that promote the hiring and retention of quality state employees while reducing legacy costs to more sustainable levels,” said Commissioner Becky Hultberg.  “By capping and reducing leave accrual, reducing the amount of automatic pay increases over the long-term and negotiating reasonable cost of living increases, the tentative agreements reached with GGU, SU and CEA accomplish this balance.” 

“We acknowledge the reality of current budget constraints and have worked with the state to reach a balanced agreement that addresses long-term budget concerns while supporting the professionals who work in public service,” said SU bargaining lead, Pete Ford.  Ford then added “reasonable cost of living increases, concessions on leave accrual and a leave cap show a good-faith-effort to respond to budget concerns while providing a fair agreement for our members.”

The tentative agreements contain the following provisions:

  • A one percent (1%) increase effective July 1, 2013, another one percent (1%) increase effective July 1, 2014 and a two-point-five percent (2.5%) increase effective July 1, 2015.
  • Reduction of leave accrual rates for new employees hired on or after July 1, 2013 as follows:
    • 0-2 years of service accrual 13.12 hours per month (down 1.88 hours)
    • 2-5 years of service accrual 15.0 hours per month (down 1.88 hours)
    • 5-10 years of service accrual 16.38 hours per month (down 1.88 hours)
    • 10-15 years of service accrual 18.76 hours per month (down 3.74 hours)
    • 15+ years of service accrual 22.5 hours per month (new tier for new hires)
  • Leave accrual cap, a change from no cap.
  • Mandatory leave usage will increase from 37.5 hours per year to 75 hours per year effective July 1, 2013.  Employees who have more than 400 hours upon implementation of this policy must use 112.5 hours each year.
  • A change in biannual longevity pay increments from three-point-seven-five percent (3.75%) to three-point-two-five percent (3.25%) effective July 1, 2015.
  • Introduction of new provisions in the contract relating to furlough.
  • Increase in employer contribution for health insurance to $1,389 per eligible employee per month effective July 1, 2013 after which the employer contribution shall be the amount necessary to maintain coverage under the Select Benefits Default Plan (Economy Plan).

For more information about labor contracts, contact Nicki Neal, Director of Personnel and Labor Relations, or the union representing the bargaining unit.  Members of public employee bargaining units with questions about their own contracts should contact their union representatives.

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For more information: Nicki Neal, Director of Personnel and Labor Relations, 907-465-4429