This week we have concluded a second round of negotiations over our DOC members’ 2023-2025 collective bargaining agreement. Your bargaining team has spent time looking at the State’s counterproposals to what we have presented earlier and countering what they have brought to the table.

To say that the last two days of bargaining have been disappointing is an understatement. It was obvious to the bargaining team that the State has complete disregard to the hardship and sacrifice each one of you has endured during the two and a half years of the COVID pandemic.

Instead of improving on the current contract, the new administration is attempting to take away from the hard-won victories that have been achieved under the previous administrations, and it is looking to roll back the contract language that has been established for over two decades.

Your bargaining teams was outraged by comments made by one of the State’s lead negotiator referring to your pay as “Superhero pay” and insinuating that you are undeserving of better pay with respect to your counterparts.

Your bargaining team is fighting hard to protect our victories and to get you a contract you deserve. You can watch members of your bargaining committee further breakdown this week’s negotiations in the video here.

We will continue to bring you updates as bargaining proceeds in July. The next round of negotiations will take place over Zoom on July 20-21.