Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed the first master agreement between the state and the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE) May 16—exactly one year after KOSE won recognition from the Kansas Public Employee Relations Board. The signing of the comprehensive agreement paves the way for supplemental negotiations to address bargaining unit-specific issues in each of the union's six occupational-based units that cumulatively represent more than 10,000 employees.

The master agreement, which covers working conditions, hours of work and compensation, serves as the foundation of rights for KOSE-represented state employees. KOSE president and bargaining team member Lisa Ochs says the union's goals were largely accomplished on issues including a meaningful grievance procedure with impartial arbitration, workplace safety, union access to employees, and paid time for union stewards to administer the agreement.

One provision most welcomed by KOSE members, says Ochs, gives employees the right to choose whether to be paid for overtime or to earn compensatory time. "Before, the employer was making the decision on behalf of the employee, forcing them to receive comp time that they couldn't take because there were not the staff available to do the work," says Ochs. "Comp time doesn't pay the bills. Comp time doesn't pay the babysitter."

The contract also strengthens the evaluation process by requiring the employer, when evaluating performance, to take into account resource problems, lack of training, frequent interruptions and other matters outside an employee's control. Moreover, the agreement requires that an evaluating supervisor must have supervised an employee for at least 90 days before he or she can evaluate the employee, and it prohibits a supervisor's supervisor from changing the evaluation.

"I think another huge thing, especially for employees in state hospitals, is Aggravated Battery Job Injury Leave," says Ochs. Under this provision, an employee who sustains a qualifying injury may be off the job for up to six months, but still receives his or her regular compensation and continues to accrue sick and vacation leave.

Under the agreement, wages and salaries are mandatory subjects of bargaining, dependent on legislative appropriation. The agreement establishes "pre-budget negotiations" for wages and salaries, obligating the state to negotiate general wage increases with the union for inclusion in the governor's budget prior to the upcoming legislative session.

Following the signing of the master agreement, Gov. Sebelius signed the state employee pay plan. The union negotiated, and the Legislature approved, a 2.5 percent pay increase as well as $16 million for market adjustments for state employees whose salaries lag behind their private sector counterparts. The pay plan also includes a union-negotiated longevity payment of $50 for each year of service, for employees who have worked for the state for more than 10 years.

"Signing of the master contract brings to fruition a historic process, giving a greater voice to Kansas state employees through KOSE representation," says Steve Porter, director of the AFT Public Employees department. "This is a milestone that helps make state employment more attractive; and it will help to improve the delivery of public services in Kansas."

KOSE is a merged local of the AFT and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

June 12, 2008