July 13, 2015

Tentative Agreement: Another One-Year Contract Extension

IAPE members — The Union Bargaining Committee, which consists of members of the Executive Council of the IAPE Board of Directors, has reached a tentative agreement with the company on another one-year extension of the current collective-bargaining agreement. The extension negotiated in 2014 expired on June 30, but the collective agreement provides for an automatic 60-day extension of terms and conditions.

A majority of the IAPE Board has voted to recommend IAPE members accept this new one-year extension.

As was the case in 2014, salaries will be increased 2%, retroactive to July 1, 2015. For employees paid according to our introductory tiers and scales, all scales will increase 1%. The absolute minimum salary increase for all full-time IAPE-represented employees will be $20 per week (gross). These salary increases will likely will be reflected in September paychecks.

All other terms of the contract remain in place until June 30, 2016, including contract language that places a cap on annual health care premium increases, but gives management "the discretion and flexibility to change and modify its benefit plan design and coverages" without "substantially reduc(ing) the totality of the benefits package."**

The IAPE Election Committee has established a ratification voting period of July 27-31, 2015. Contract ratification notices will be mailed to all members in good standing (as of July 13, 2015) and ballots will be emailed to all beginning on July 27th.

If you do not wish to receive your contract ballot at your Dow Jones email address, please contact the IAPE office.

If you have any questions or concerns about this negotiated extension, please contact your local IAPE director, call the IAPE office (609-275-6020), or reply to this message.

As always, thanks for your support. On July 27th, please vote "YES."

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** As a reminder of that "flexibility," during open enrollment in November of last year, employees were informed that 2015 premiums would increase under the negotiated cap and dental and vision coverage would be "unbundled" from plan choices. Deductibles were increased for the Aetna POS II plan ($100 per year for individuals and $300 per year for families) and the Company implemented a cap on prescription drug out-of-pocket costs of $2500 for individuals and $5000 for families.