SHARE Raises Now in Effect

The 2016 SHARE raises go into effect this week. SHARE members have begun earning their new higher rate, and will see the effect in the July 15 paycheck.

For most members, the raise is the higher of $0.45 or 2%. That means that a full-time person is earning at least $36 more per paycheck before taxes (or almost $1,000 per year).

Probationary employees

• If you are a new employee in your 6-month probationary period on June 26, 2016, your raise will be delayed, and a little smaller: 1.5% increase, as of the first Sunday of the next full pay period following satisfactory completion of the probationary period
• If you are a transfer employee in your 3-month probationary period, you get your regular raise on time

Merit based on performance reviews

• Employees with an Exceeds rating receive an additional $100 lump sum
• Employees with an Outstanding rating receive an additional $250 lump sum
• Employees with Does not Meet or Needs Improvement rating raises may have their raises withheld (this is subject to review by HR and the union through the problem-solving process)

Employees at grade max

• The grade maximum increases by 1.5%
• If your raise would take you above this new grade max, you move to the new max and get the rest as a lump sum.                            

Employees at grade min

• The grade minimum increases by 1.5%
• If your rate is below the new grade min, you move up to the new min, and then get your raise

Structure Raises for employees too low in their grade – you may be eligible if…

• You have 5 full years of service but are not 25% through your grade
• You have 10 full years of service but are not 50% through your grade
• You have 15 full years of service but are not 75% through your grade

If you have questions about the structure raises, call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020.

For more information see the SHARE contract or call the SHARE office

• See page 54 of the SHARE contract for this year’s raise and next year’s raise
• See pages 57-59 of the SHARE contract for the SHARE Salary Chart effective June 26, 2016
• See pages 27-28 of the SHARE contract for more details on how raises work
• Call the SHARE office at 508-929-4020 if you have other questions

GIC Insurance Update

SHARE, along with other state employee unions, has been lobbying the State Legislature against increasing the percent of health insurance costs paid by employees and retirees. Many thanks to the SHARE members who emailed or called their state legislators! It looks like we may be successful. We will know for sure when the budget is finalized.

Governor Baker introduced the increases in his budget for the coming year. Under his plan there would be two big changes:

1. State employees who retire after 6/30/16 would have a 75/25 premium split for retiree health insurance
2. State employees hired before 6/30/2003 would have a 75/25 premium split for their health insurance (they are currently"grandfathered" at the old 80/20 split) 

So far the House and Senate have rejected these cost-shifting proposals. 

This is good news for us, although it is not yet final because the House and Senate now have to reconcile their two slightly different overall budget proposals. Since they don't disagree about the GIC, we are hopeful that there won't be any changes to that section of the budget. 

We will keep you posted.

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FY17 Budget Timeline - GIC Overview

• February Governor's budget ($1,078,340,881)
  • $27M increase from FY16 budget ($1,051,480,303) 
  • includes increased cost estimate from GIC, partially offset by savings from shifting costs onto employees and retirees:
    • state employees hired before 6/30/2003 - increase premium share from 20% to 25% (est $30M savings)
    • future state retirees - increase premium share from 20% to 25% for anyone retiring after 6/30/16 (est $3M savings)
• April House Ways and Means budget ($1,111,340,881)
  • no cost shifting 
  • $33M more than Governor's budget
• April House Budget (1,080,123,761)
  • agrees with HW&M structure: no cost shifting
  • takes into account new, lower cost estimate from GIC (est $31M savings)
• May Senate Ways and Means budget ($1,080,123,761)​
  • no cost shifting
  • very similar to House
• May Senate budget (1,080,123,761)
  • no change from SW&M
• June House and Senate Conference Committee
  • have to reconcile the differences between the House budget and Senate budget
  • they don't have differences between them on the GIC
  • we are not completely done and safe until they have a final agreement and Governor Baker signs it

Information summarized from Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center http://www.massbudget.org/budget.php​. 

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SHARE Information Meetings in July

Please join us at one of the following drop-in times to learn what's happening with your union now. Stop by for a quick question, or stay a while and bring your lunch. (And your questions! And your friends!)

CCU -- Wednesday, 7/6/16 (2pm-4pm) -- Conference Room

South Street -- Thursday, 7/7/16 (noon-1:30pm) -- Brazil (off the cafeteria)

Main Campus -- Thursday, 7/14/16 (noon-1:30pm) -- Sherman cafeteria

If these meetings do not work for you, give us a call and we'll work with you to schedule a time and place that is more convenient: 508-929-4020.

Solidarity

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting, their families and their friends. 

We stand in solidarity with all those affected by this senseless violence, directly or indirectly, and especially with our own LGBTQ, Latino, and Muslim communities here at UMass Memorial Hospital and UMass Medical School.​