Yesterday, your bargaining team met with the Court team and the CEO to address the current bargaining impasse. Both sides articulated their positions, and the Court made some concessions in our favor.
While these concessions were presented as "supposals" rather than formal proposals, they indicate some movement on the critical issues that have been challenging at the negotiation table. However, we are still at an impasse due to the Court's position on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
Given the Court's projection of a shortfall in the third year, we are now pursuing a 2-year contract. In this contract, the COLA will remain at 3% in Year 1, accompanied by a one-time payment of $500. In Year 2, the COLA will be 3% if the Total Compensation Trust Fund (TCTF) reaches $29,544,000, 2% if it falls below that threshold, and it will increase to 4% if it exceeds that amount.
We firmly stand at an impasse, while the Court insists on moving to mediation. We recognize that we cannot reject mediation under the Employer-Employee Relations Rules, but we want to be clear about our stance.
We will conduct a membership meeting this Wednesday, October 1st, at 5 PM in the jury selection room of the Gibson Courthouse. It's important that you attend to discuss the process and address any questions you may have. Your involvement is crucial as we navigate this situation.
