WI
Legislation supported by AFT-Wisconsin would strip the governor's authority to appoint the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.

Specifically, AB-504 would transfer the appointing authority to the Natural Resources Board, which is made up of professionals in the field who have experience in the agency.

AFT-Wisconsin says the change would "ensure that the most qualified body appoints the most qualified candidate."

DC
Federal employees nationwide who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) would receive a one-time payment of up to $10,000 for unused sick leave under a bill (H.R. 5573) introduced by Rep. James Moran (D-Va.).

Under the proposal, only employees with substantial amounts of sick leave-more than 500 hours-would be eligible.

Currently, FERS-covered employees receive no payment nor retirement credit for their unused sick leave. Almost all federal civilian employees hired after 1983 are covered under this system.

OR
More than 21,000 paraprofessionals and school-related personnel represented by the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) voted to affiliate with the AFT in February, marking the largest affiliation of an independent union in AFT history.

"Our organizations share the same values and priorities," says AFT president Edward J. McElroy. "This affiliation will make OSEA and the AFT better and stronger.

The vote capped a decade-long process in which the AFT made a deep commitment to OSEA members, including workers at Portland Community College. "It formalizes what has always been a close relationship between our unions and allows us to take our partnership to a new level," says OSEA president Merlene Martin.

NJ
The 1,700 nonteaching administrators at Rutgers University, who gained recognition via card check to form the Union of Rutgers Administrators-AFT last spring, ratified their first contract late last year.

The four-year agreement provides a compounded across-the-board raise of 9.3 percent, including a 4.5 percent increase this year, retroactive to July 1, 2007. In addition to across-the-board increases, the contract establishes a "salary pool" for merit-based raises starting July 1, 2008.

Other highlights: The contract ends the employees' status as "at-will," guaranteeing no termination without just cause; improves sick and vacation leave policies; provides tuition remission for dependents attending Rutgers part time; and flexible work schedules so URA unit members can take Rutgers classes during work hours.