Informational Updates on a Variety of Issues (August 29, 2014)

Commonwealth-Collective Bargaining-Contract Funding Update:

The Commonwealth contract was ratified by the membership on June 25^th, 2024, and was immediately attached to a supplemental spending bill for funding. The legislature failed to act on the bill before recessing for the summer, at this stage we don’t have a clear timeline for when the supplemental budget will be voted on. As soon as we have additional information, we will email the membership. A (draft) copy of the integrated contract, including all the language from the 2024-2027 contract will be posted on the MOSES membership side of the website. Draft salary charts will also be available. 

MassDOT- Collective Bargaining Update:

Your MOSES Unit E Collective Bargaining Committee continues to meet and bargain a successor agreement to the July 2023-June 2024 collective bargaining agreement. As a reminder, the current contract continues in full force and effect until a successor agreement is executed. We have held several collective bargaining sessions with MassDOT beginning on April 30^th, 2024, our most recent discussions were 5/8, 5/29, 6/13, 7/10, 7/24, 7/31, 8/12, and 8/21. Our next scheduled meeting is next Wednesday, 9/04/2024. Please be assured that the Collective Bargaining Committee is looking out for the best interests of every MOSES member and striving for the best possible terms. While you may have heard that other unions have settled with MassDOT, our negotiations are on-going. Negotiations take time and each proposal needs thoughtful analysis and perhaps a counter proposal offered. We will keep you updated on the status of negotiations until we reach an agreement with MassDOT.

MWRA- Collective Bargaining Update:

Your MOSES Unit 9 Collective Bargaining Committee continues to meet and bargain a successor agreement, we have held three collective bargaining sessions with MWRA beginning in June. Our latest meeting that was scheduled for 8/26 was postponed at the request of the MWRA to 9/9/2024. NOTE that none of the five unions have settled with MWRA, all negotiations are on-going. The MWRA has put several new proposals on the table and each proposal needs thoughtful analysis and perhaps a counter proposal offered. We will keep you updated on the status of negotiations. 

Civil Engineer Job Specification Update:

With the Governors executive order #627 on education requirements in hiring, we have started the task of rewriting and updating all the CE Series Jobs. The job specifications were written and agreed on May 1^st, 1989. MOSES has met with the Commonwealth HRD a number of times on the issues and have a number of meetings planned, MOSES has also placed a MassDOT member on release time for two days a week to help work on this project.   

Healthcare Mitigation Fund reimbursement (out of pocket medical expenses):

The claim window has closed for July 2023-June 30th, 2024, submittals. The administrators have opened all claims and have approximately 140 submittals that will need attention and another 400 claims awaiting checks to be issued. Please be patient as the program has had increased participation, and it will take more time to process all the claims. MOSES is also pleased to announce that the increased funding in all of our contracts for the Health and Welfare Trust will allow this program to continue and expand in the coming years. 

Annual MOSES Memorial Scholarship Drawings:

The 45th Annual MOSES Memorial Scholarship Awards will be drawn virtually via Zoom Webinar on September 12^th, 2024, at 6:00pm (a link will be sent out the week of September 9th). There are thirty one (31) scholarships worth $1000 each in memory of deceased members of the MOSES Board of Directors and Stewards, and two (2) $2,000 scholarships in the name of our deceased former President and Vice President. Eligibility Requirements: Scholarships are limited to MOSES members (including Active Retirees), their spouse or children, as well as the spouses and dependent children of deceased MOSES members under the following condition: The member or immediate family member plans to attend and has been accepted at an accredited higher education facility for the fall 2024/ spring 2025 semester or enrollment online. If you need an application form, please use the contact us button on the MOSES website. 

Workpartners Information for MassDOT and Commonwealth Employees only! (MWRA and employees at the Attorney General’s Office are not affected by this):

On June 27^th, 2024 MOSES received notice regarding changes to leave administration. The notice signals the beginning of the Commonwealth’s dismantling of the Workpartners leave management system. I am very pleased that the Healey-Driscoll Administration will be bringing this work back into the Commonwealth. The Human Resources Division (HRD) will be establishing a centralized leave administration unit to support all Executive Department agencies and their employees (we need to work with MassDOT to see how the process will work for DOT members). The complete changeover is not slated to happen until the Fall of 2025, until then please continue to reach out to MOSES using the contact us button on the MOSES website if you experience issues with Workpartners or any aspect of leave management. Moving forward MOSES will be asking for all the information that members provided to Workpartners to be returned, destroyed, and or removed from all Workpartners databases. 

As a reminder, you DO NOT have to sign the “Commonwealth of Massachusetts Authorization to Release Information” form to access your leave benefits. If you are asked to submit this form and do not feel comfortable doing so, please use the contact us button on the MOSES website. Not all interactions with Workpartners have been difficult, however for the ones that were, I would like to thank the members for coming forward during very stressful times. 

Use of Fleet and Personal vehicles (affecting Commonwealth employees):

MOSES had heard from members regarding changes to the number of fleet vehicles per agency. And as a result of a change to Article 11 Section 11.1 of the 2024-2027 contract, the Commonwealth must meet and discuss the impacts on Unit 9 members caused by the Right Sizing of the Commonwealths automobile fleet. Two DEP BOD members have volunteered to compile and present MOSES’s position and the impacts of right sizing on our members. 

Commonwealth Members (only)

Training Trust reimbursements for professional licenses or members higher education costs:

The training trust is still waiting for a report and legal rulings before submittals and reimbursements can occur. Once these issues are resolved, we will notify the membership. 

Use or Lose Vacation Time Commonwealth and MassDOT members:

Below is a link to what the Commonwealth has published regarding Use or Lose Vacation and Personal Time. Please plan to have your balances below the Maximum Carryover by 12/31/2024 to avoid losing your time. Use or Lose deadlines for vacation and personal time

Healthcare Spending Account Activity:

A number of members who elected to participate in the Healthcare Spending Account programs this open enrolment period have reported that they had been mistakenly signed up for the Dependent Care Account instead of the Healthcare Spending Account. Please don’t rely on what your payroll deduction says, check your account, if you find an issue contact TASC or your GIC Coordinator immediately.

Our next general membership meeting will be held on September 10^th, 2024 @

Lenzi’s Catering and Function Facility

810 Merrimack Avenue

Dracut, MA 01826

Patrick