Legislative update (2/14/14): Higher Education

Although this was officially Valentine's Week, we weren't feeling much love up here in Tallahassee.  Legislators are once again starting their attack on the Florida Retirement System.  This week a bill was filed in the Senate which would create what is called a "cash balance" plan (more below).  Rumors indicate there are more FRS 'reform' bills to come.  It seems that legislators just can't keep their hands off your retirement!  The first hearing of the new bill is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19 in the Senate Community Affairs Committee at 2 p.m.

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UFF-FSCJ Bargaining Update

      We mutually agreed to keep the current continuing contract process for the remainder of the semester.  All current CC candidates will advance under the current process.
      
     We discussed some ideas to address the changes to continuing contract and post-continuing contract review required by a change in the State Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0411 for the next contract. The team passed to the Administration the working papers  for Articles 13 (Continuing Contract) and 13 A (Post-Continuing Contract Review)
 
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2013 Annual Report on Contracting Services

January 27, 2014 -- The Department of Administration finally released the annual report on contracting services. The report is required by s. 16.705 (8) and was due by October 15, 2013.

DOA reported $418.9 million in spending by state agencies during SFY 13 and $126.4 million in spending by the University.  It’s important to note that the report does NOT include some types of contractual services, most notably for building and road construction. 

See Report

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Write your legislators. State Employee Pensions AT RISK!

That’s right. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has submitted a budget that calls for reducing the state’s contribution to the pension plan by $100 million dollars a year.

That’s not fair! Click here to tell your legislators to vote against cutting the state's contribution to the pension fund.

Two years ago, that state required you to increase your contribution to the employee pension fund. In return, the legislature promised to contribute $300 million per year to that fund. Now, Governor O’Malley is breaking that promise. There are several problems with the governor’s proposal:

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2/13/14

AFT NEW MEXICO PRESIDENT STEPHANIE LY CALLS ON THE GOVERNOR AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL COMPROMISE AND STOP HOLDING UP THE STATE BUDGET OVER FUNDING FOR FAILED REFORMS.

Wednesday, the House moved House Bill 2 back to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC), where Republicans will have another chance to reach a meaningful compromise and allow the budget process to move forward.

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Labor Visits the State House

Jim Seymour, PATFA vice president, represented our organization at a "Labor Lobby Day" at the Maine State House in Augusta on Feb. 11. Following are his observations:
 
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