Members of the Negotiating Committee met several times during June and July with Brian Aldes and Brenda Corrigan, Business Agents for Teamsters Local 320, to draft a proposed Labor Agreement to be submitted to the State Board of Public Defense.

Many aspects of our benefits under the existing Commissioner’s Plan were retained, including current vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation, comp time, stability pay, expense reimbursement, insurance, leaves of absence and severance. Some additions or modifications to these benefits were included in the proposed Labor Agreement. Salary and overhead compensation initiatives were not included in the proposed Agreement, but will be submitted later in the negotiating process.

Highlights of the proposed Agreement include:

• Half-time public defenders receive full insurance coverage.

• A grievance procedure is established.

• Employees may convert sick leave to pay for approved health and fitness activities up to $800 per year.

• Full-time employees get two floating holidays per year; part-time employees get one.

• Employees may be reimbursed for attorney license fees, CLE’s and professional membership dues (e.g., bar association).

• An employee may not be transferred to a different primary work location without his/her consent.

• Flexible work schedules and job sharing are permitted unless the employees’ work location would be adversely affected.

• Employees may not be disciplined, suspended, demoted or discharged without just cause.

• The 40-hour cap on comp time banks is abolished.

• Half-time and three-quarter time employees are eligible for comp time after their annual hourly requirement is exceeded, and they may carry such comp time over to succeeding years.

Each member of the Negotiating Committee has a copy of the proposed Agreement and the current personnel manual from the State Board of Public Defense. If you would like to review either of these documents in detail or have questions or comments about the proposed Agreement, please contact one of the 10^th District reps. We need input from as many people as possible about the contract.