WE DID IT! This is YOUR VICTORY after months of delays the Supplemental Budget Bill funding NINETY-FIVE union contracts covering 60,000 Massachusetts public employees was signed into law by Governor Maura Healy yesterday. These contracts cover the workers who provide vital government services to the Commonwealth and allow them to have decent wages, benefits, and union protections on the job.
These services include:
- Public Higher Education
- Public Safety
- Support for the disabled and mentally ill
- Recreation and Green Spaces
- County Courts
- And many more that make the Commonwealth of Massachusetts great!
This is YOUR VICTORY and would not have been possible without the intense pressure exerted by AFSCME members and our brothers and sisters in other public sector unions! The tens of thousands of phone calls, emails, public demonstrations, office visits, and personal appeals to legislators were the difference in getting money into the pockets of our members. This is a shining example of what AFSCME members can accomplish when they work together with the Council to achieve a legislative goal.
While Council 93 leadership and staff worked tirelessly to push this legislation forward, this is YOUR VICTORY because it was the actions of rank-and-file members who provided the necessary push to get the bill passed and funded. The AFL-CIO Public Sector Task Force met daily to adjust and refine strategy as needed in a constantly changing dynamic and along with Council 93 representatives were a constant presence at the state house including weekend session.
While there is plenty of blame to go around to both obstructionist Republicans and the Democratic majority who could have forced the issue anytime during their 7-week vacation, we refused to fall into the trap of taking sides in the blame game between the house and senate and Republicans and Democrats.
These hard fought for and well-deserved raises, upgrades, and retroactive payments will be rolled out over the next several pay periods. While OER and the various HR departments are working out the exact timing of implementation, they are hopeful that the initial 4% raise will be in the December 22, 2023 paycheck to help ease the burden of holiday bills and the start of the winter heating season.
Best wishes and happy holidays to all AFSCME members who made this possible and remember- this is YOUR VICTORY!
