AFT-Maryland Professional Employee Council members turned out on Saturday, December 08, 2019 and VOTED 100% YES to support the 2020 Economic Re-Opener agreement that garnered its members a second consecutive year of wage increases. MPEC's President Jerry T. Smith and the contract negotiation's team are committed to "getting wage increases how they can get it".
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You may recall, during last year's negotiations, under Smith's leadership, the negotiation's team successfully negotiated a 2% COLA (Jan. 1 2019), and .05% COLA plus $500 lump sum bonus (Apr. 1, 2019) for professional State employees. This year, the team with Jacquelyn Raines, Executive Director, serving as the Chief Negotiator, successfully negotiated an additional 3% COLA (July 1 2019) and 1% COLA (Jan 1 2020-pending $75M revenue target).
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The two consecutive years of wage increases narrows the 18-20% wage deficiency for professional State employees by a third. By July 1, 2019, MPEC members will have received a 5.5% wage increase plus $500! "We excited and enthusiastic, but we have much work to do", say Smith. "Our challenge is getting all Unit G members to join in and support this work. We are much stronger together".
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