Kansas state employees earlier this week illustrated the power of collective bargaining for the purpose of encouraging positive change in their government and workplace. State employees, represented by the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE), have successfully ratified their second contract with the State of Kansas, which included $10.7 million in undermarket adjustments for state employees who were being unfairly underpaid for similar private and public sector jobs.

While some bloggers and members of the media will attempt to skew these adjustments as raises for state employees, it is important to understand the nature of these adjustments and who the adjustments impact. State workers receiving equitable adjustments to pay included:

• 466 food service employees, who prepare the meals for those in state hospitals and prisons, who were making, on average, $17,000 annually;

• 1,350 Kansas prison correctional officers, who keep watch of the most violent of Kansas offenders, were starting at an average of $27,000 annually;

• 400 KDOT Equipment Operators were earning an average starting salary of $19,000; and

• 466 custodial workers who were earning, on average, a $23,000 starting salary.

All totaled, 6,800 Kansas workers who were determined to be below comparable market pay in the region, will receive undermarket adjustments to their pay. The adjustments are not about pay raises: the increases are about equity for our employees and providing the best services we can as a state.

The recently negotiated MOA also governs such things as hours of work, benefits, discipline and protocol for classified executive branch state employees. During a seven month period of Meet and Confer with Kansas officials and more than 160 hours of negotiations, the KOSE Bargaining Team also achieved other major victories for state employees, including:

• Neither the Agency Head nor the Governor may implement furloughs without formal Meet and Confer with KOSE;

• During an employee investigation, a KOSE union steward can stop an investigation and offer council for up to 20 minutes;

• Within 21 days of discovery, employees must be made aware of any adverse information that may be used on evaluations and shall be provided an opportunity for rebuttal;

• Right to appeal your evaluation to an Appeal Committee comprised of state workers;

• Stronger language on the grievance procedure;

• No employee will be required to find coverage if absent from work.”

• The Employer will make a good faith effort to avoid requiring employees to work more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period. If the employee is forced over 12 hours and no documentation is provided, then the employee may grieve the overtime; and

• Providing partnership benefits for funeral leave.

KOSE was formed in 2007, after the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) reorganized the bargaining units for state workers. Prior to the re-organization, state workers were divided into more than 50 bargaining units. Under the PERB directive for reorganization, the bargaining units were consolidated into 16 units. The reorganization gave workers a much stronger voice by bringing more workers together. Since the existence of KOSE, state workers have won historical rights on the job and more money in their pocket books. State workers have received millions of dollars in negotiated market adjustments since 2007.

This year, after the Legislature courageously passed a budget that continued funding for the market adjustments, KOSE negotiated more than $10.7 million in adjustments for the lowest paid workers. KOSE members live in every legislative district across our state. KOSE members clear the snow, answer the abuse hotline, keep inmates locked up and behind bars, and care for the most vulnerable Kansans at our state hospitals. State employees help those who are down on their luck and give a little help when they need it. Most importantly, state employees are watch dogs for taxpayer dollars because they are the agents who investigate fraud and abuse. Members include correctional officers, KBI agents, adminstrative assistants, custodial staff, engineers, equipment operators, direct care staff, and social workers, providing the services that all Kansans depend on.

Labor leaders and workers throughout Kansas are applauding the KOSE victories. Bruce Tunnell, Kansas AFL-CIO Executive Vice President noted the important occasion, saying…

“KOSE, through its newly ratified MOA, has set an example for workers coping with these tough economic times—you don’t have to concede and you can still win no matter what the conventional wisdom says.”

House Minority Leader Paul Davis, who was a valued ally in the fight at the Statehouse over our market adjustments, also praises KOSE for its new MOA and for its activism, saying…

“Thousands of state employees have been underpaid and underappreciated for far too long. The market adjustments approved by the Legislature and ratified by the Master Memorandum of Agreement are a significant step forward in rectifying these inequities and showing state employees that we value their hard work.”

KOSE Executive Director Jane Carter released  a statement earlier this week on the finalization of the 2nd contract with the state, saying…

“Our Bargaining Team worked diligently for over 160 hours with the State to hammer out this agreement. I am so proud of the work we accomplished on behalf of KOSE members and state employees. We stuck to our goals, we stayed true to our principles, and in the end we accomplished our mission. From our member’s activism at the bargaining table, at the Statehouse, and on the worksite we have made our state better for all Kansans.”

Too keep up with the activities of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE), follow them on Twitter at @KOSEUnion.