Real Advocacy

“No money” — before bargaining

Our contract expired April 1, and formal state negotiations still haven’t begun. Yet President Belmar's June 2 letter to members relayed management’s claim of “no money on the table now.” Are we being buttered-up not to expect much from the negotiations? When your union repeats the boss’s “no money” before bargaining even starts, what does that signal about how hard they’ll fight? Members deserve a leader who challenges that line, not one who submissively passes it along.

What do members want?

For every member

1. A cost-of-living adjustment, at minimum! Our members have lost about 12% of their buying power over the last six years.
2. Tier 6 pension reform: limit payment into our pensions to 10 years like tier 4 and push for earlier retirement.
3. Double location pay.

Clericals

1. Higher pay.
2. More affordable health insurance; better and cheaper dental and optical.
3. A larger public-transit discount.

Interpreters

1. A multi-language premium of $20,000 a year for each additional certified language.
2. A rule enforcing team interpreting for all longer hearings and trials.
3. Virtual appearances for LOTS interpreters during nights and weekends.
4. Entitle LOTS interpreters to take promotional exams.

Court reporters

1. Higher page-rate compensation.