By a margin of greater than 19 to 1, we have ratified our next collective bargaining agreement!
The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2029.
It includes both a 2.5% general wage increase (GWI) and a step increase in each of the first three years. The first GWI is retroactive to July 2025, and the first step is retroactive to January 2026. Those at the top step will receive a $1,200 lump-sum payment.
Other highlights include protection of important language on personal time and job security.
Nearly half the total membership — 1,580 members — took part in the online vote March 25-27, with 1,513 members, or 95.8%, voting yes.
“I just want to thank the negotiations team for their commitment and dedication to achieving a contract, and thank you to the membership for staying informed and voting to ratify,” says 1st VP for Collective Bargaining Shawn Brown, who chaired the negotiating committee. “Everyone involved dedicated their time and energy to fight for the many benefits all our members have, and although we didn’t ‘win’ everything we wanted, this contract was a win, and now we continue the fight.”
Next steps are for the UConn Health Board of Directors to approve the contract, followed by a vote in both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly, likely sometime in April.
Once all approvals are in place, we’ll have a better sense of when the retroactive raises will show up in our paychecks. Also to come are an updated pay grid to reflect the raises, and the creation of the actual contract book. Both will be accessible on our website once available, and at some point after that we’ll have printed copies of the contract in book form.
Special thanks to Meg Bartos and Michelle Proper for facilitating the ratification vote, and to our chief negotiator and AFT CT field rep, Emily Demicco!