Negotiations for our 2016 contract begin in April, and Local 1000’s 63-member bargaining team is in place and deep in preparations, training and strategizing to bring the 95,000 state workers we represent the best contract we’ve ever had.
The bargaining team represents the union at the negotiating table and is made up of members from the nine bargaining units represented by Local 1000. Issues that affect all represented employees such as pay, benefits and retirement are negotiated at the master table while each of the nine bargaining teams negotiate unit-specific issues.
Bargaining Unit 1’s 20-member team negotiates on behalf of more than 45,000 state workers in numerous professional classifications.
The Unit 1 bargaining team receives support from staff in our Contract department, researchers and attorneys who work with the bargaining team on contract language and bargaining strategies.
Members of the Unit 1 bargaining team have been attending town halls and gathering input from members, identifying key issues that will guide the development of unit-specific and master table issues.
Serving on the bargaining team is selfless work and a huge investment of time and energy. Camille Mahan-Carr says she joined the team to improve the working conditions of state workers.
“I want to set up a better future not only for my children but all future generations that become state workers,” she says.
Unit 1 Chair Modkins agrees that serving on the team is an opportunity to make a difference.
“When we go to the table, we take the voices of all our members with us,” says Modkins. “It’s a big responsibility, and we take it very seriously.”