AFSCME Local 3429 Members Ratify New Contract

On June 25, 2020, AFSCME Local 3429 members voted 2-to-1 in favor of a tentative collective bargaining agreement agreement. The contract, which also requires the approval of the New Haven Board of Education, runs retroactively from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023.

The Board of Education was scheduled to vote on the contract at their July 13 meeting, but tabled the action until their July 27 meeting.

Highlights of the agreement include general wage increases as follows:

  • July 1st, 2020 increase of 2.4% for all, no step movement;
  • July 1st, 2021 all who can move one step* OR increase of 2.0% for those already at the top step and who are red-circled;  
  • July 1st, 2022 increase of 2.4% for all, no step movement. (*Step movement results in an increase of approximately 6% to 12% depending on the starting step.)

There are other significant and positive changes as well in this new agreement:

Stipend for paraprofessionals who act as substitutes – paraprofessionals with Bachelor’s degrees will now receive a $45 per day stipend when they are assigned to cover a classroom as a substitute.  The Union was able to negotiate limits on the Board’s ability to assign paraprofessionals for this task, and the assignments will be distributed equitably by building.

“No Lockout” language – by having this language in the contract we now have another remedy available to the Union should the Board lock employees out.  At the start of the COVID crisis, and prior to the Governor’s executive order that all Board of Ed employees should continue to be paid, there was a possibility that this language would help employees who were available to work continue to be paid.

Evaluation system to be “reevaluated”—a joint labor-management committee will review the evaluation system to paraprofessionals, with the goal of implementing a new system for the 2021-2022 school year.

With regard to health insurance, our Local 3429 negotiating team was able to limit the cost share increase to a total of 2% over the 4 years of the contract, broken down into 0%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.5%. We also prevented the employer from weakening our contractual rights in several areas such as the payout of unused sick time for grandfathered employees, personal time language, discipline and more.

Thanks to all who participated in membership meetings and took part in voting on the agreement. We need as many of you as possible be involved in the union as we continue to deal with the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our membership meetings are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month at 4 p.m. at Career High School.  Please attend and help us make our voice heard as we stand up for dignity and respect.